Shipping delays limit free county COVID-19 testing

LIHU‘E — Thursday, the Hawai‘i State Department of Health Kaua‘i District Health Office reported 23 new cases of COVID-19.

These cases consist of two visitors and 21 residents. Of the 23 new cases, six are children and 17 are adults.

Six of the cases are related to mainland travel. The remaining 17 cases are considered community-acquired. Twelve of the community-acquired infections are close contacts of a previously announced case or are tied to an active cluster. The remaining five cases have no known source of infection, including three whom investigators have been unable to reach after repeated attempts or who have refused to provide information.

Two of Thursday’s cases were diagnosed on the mainland, but did not receive test results until after their arrival to Kaua‘i.

There are 120 active cases, with 13 hospitalized.

To date, the county has recorded 3,225 cumulative cases.

Due to shipping delays, the testing center at the Kaua‘i War Memorial Convention Hall and the mobile testing van at the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center will have limited testing available today. Both sites will operate on a first-come, first-served basis and will close for the day once they run out of tests.

Additionally, the mobile testing van will be closed on Saturday, Dec. 4, at the Hanalei Neighborhood Center, and on Sunday, Dec. 5, at the Bryan J. Baptiste Sports Complex in Kapa‘a.

Officials anticipate more tests to arrive on island this weekend, and the Convention Hall testing site is expected to open at usual capacity on Monday, Dec. 6.

Free community testing remains available at the Līhu‘e Pharmacy, daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Testing is also available through a physician’s order at Wilcox Medical Center and Kaua‘i Veterans Memorial Hospital.

For a full list of testing sites, please visit kauai.gov/covidtest.

A list of vaccination locations and hours can be found at kauai.gov/vaccine.