LIHU‘E — Testing is in high demand on Kaua‘i, and the test positivity rate is there to prove it.
“Our test positivity rate is 17%. That means more than one of every six people getting tested on Kaua‘i is testing positive,” Mayor Derek Kawakami said Monday afternoon. “However, that is still the lowest test-positivity rate of any county in Hawai‘i.”
And getting a test can be time-consuming for some facing long lines or unable to find an appointment.
“Testing is in very high demand right now,” state Department of Health Kaua‘i District Health Officer Dr. Janet Berreman said.
Monday, the Kaua‘i War Memorial Convention Hall in Lihu‘e, which offers free testing daily, ran out of tickets within an hour, and hundreds got tested at Sunday’s Kapa‘a mobile-testing clinic.
Monday, the DOH Kaua‘i District Health Office reported 82 new infections. The county currently has 1,082 recorded active cases, with 11 hospitalized. According to the Hawai‘i Emergency Management Agency COVID-19 dashboard, one is in the intensive-care unit.
“These are indeed difficult times,” Berreman. “There is good reason to be careful and be concerned, but there is no need for panic.”
Berreman reiterated that mask wearing, social distancing, avoiding crowds, isolation and getting vaccinated are keys.
“The tools that we know work are those we are all familiar with,” Berreman said. “They aren’t a guarantee that illness won’t spread, but they make a big difference.”
Ho‘ola Lahui Hawai‘i will have a walk-up, pop-up vaccination clinic on Saturday at Isenberg Park in Lihu‘e from 9 to 11 a.m. for those aged 5 and older.
Pediatric vaccines are also available at Walmart, Longs Drugs at Kukui Grove Center in Lihu‘e, Kaiser Permanente Lihu‘e Clinic and Wilcox Medical Center.
The Kaua‘i Mobile COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic will be at the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center on Thursday from 1 to 5 p.m. This clinic will offer walk-in vaccinations for those aged 12 and older for first and second doses. Third doses and booster shots will also be available. Vaccines for children ages 5 to 11 will not be offered at this clinic.
The Wilcox Medical Center COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic is open on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for anyone ages 12 and older. Appointments are required for third doses. Walk-ins are welcome for first and second doses. A clinic for children aged 5 to 11 will be there Wednesday from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Appointments must be made by a child’s parent or guardian.
To schedule an appointment, visit wilcoxhealth.org/vaccine.
A list of vaccination options is available at kauai.gov/vaccine.
The Kaua‘i War Memorial Convention Hall in Lihu‘e is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. for testing.
Appointments for free drive-thru testing at Lihu‘e Pharmacy can be made at alohaclear.com.
Testing locations can be found at kauai.gov/covidtest.
