LIHU‘E – The Hawai‘i State Department of Health Kaua‘i District Health Office reported 27 new cases on Wednesday, Oct. 27.
Wednesday’s cases are all residents. Of the 27 new cases, seven are children and 20 adults. Three of the cases are related to mainland travel. The remaining 24 cases are considered community-acquired. Twenty of the community-acquired infections are close contacts of a previously announced case or are tied to an active cluster. The remaining four cases have no known source of infection.
“Our recent increase in cases on Kaua‘i is concerning – especially because most of them are community-acquired,” said Dr. Janet Berreman, Kaua‘i District Health Officer. “The COVID virus is in our community, and continues to circulate widely and spread among close contacts. If you have not yet been vaccinated, please do so today. Wearing a mask indoors and when in crowded places, staying home and getting tested if you are sick, and avoiding large gatherings helps protect each of us and our community. As much as we would like to be done with COVID, we need to continue our safe practices as we travel more and prepare for the holiday season.”
Today’s cases bring the number of active cases to 101, with four hospitalized, and 2,673 cumulative cases. Kaua‘i’s cumulative case count includes 2,614 confirmed locally, eight probable, and 51 positive cases diagnosed elsewhere, as they received their pre-travel test results after arriving on island.
Daily case counts have declined significantly in recent weeks, but remain elevated. The Department of Health case investigators and contact tracers call all new cases, generally within a day or two of a positive test. If you test positive, there is no need to wait to hear from the Department of Health before taking action: isolate yourself at home, and let those you’ve been in contact with know that they’ve been exposed. Your close contacts should quarantine and plan to be tested. Your prompt action makes a difference.
If you have symptoms or are feeling sick, you should isolate yourself immediately, stay away from household members, and not go out – including to work or school – unless you are seeking testing or getting health care. Those who have been vaccinated should still be tested if they believe they may have been exposed or if they feel sick.
Most reported cases are in residents who were infected in the community. Everyone, vaccinated or not, must follow Hawai‘i’s indoor mask requirements and gathering size limits. In addition, if you plan to travel, please be vaccinated before you go, and get tested 3-5 days after you return to Kaua‘i.
If you plan a trip, please be vaccinated before you go. And whether or not you are vaccinated, follow Hawai‘i’s prudent rules and wear a mask in crowded indoor settings.
For more information on the county’s COVID-19 response, visit www.kauai.gov/COVID-19.
