LIHU‘E — “We’ll start with some good news this week,” Mayor Derek Kawamai said Monday during the county’s weekly COVID-19 briefing. “COVID case numbers continue to drop on our island and statewide.”
The county’s seven-day case average over the past week is down to 100 cases a day, down from over 220 cases two weeks ago, he reported.
Monday, the state Department of Health Kaua‘i District Health Office recorded 74 new COVID-19 infections, significantly down from 203 two weeks ago on Jan. 24, and 288 reported a month ago on Jan. 7.
Test positivity on the island is about 18.3%, and just over 10% statewide, Kawakami said.
For much of the month of January, the county’s daily case count featured triple-digits and forced the KDHO to par down the data it released, limiting reports to just new-infection numbers. Previously, the KDHO was able to report whether new infections were of residents or visitors and sources of infection.
At the Kaua‘i Community Correctional Center in Wailua, there are currently 53 active infections among inmates. The state Department of Public Safety reported eight new cases on Monday.
“Our free, same-day, rapid-PCR testing centers are no longer reaching capacity, and there are plenty of tests available each day,” Kawakami said. “There is no need to line up early to guarantee a test.”
A free testing site at Kaua‘i War Memorial Conventional Hall in Lihu‘e is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
For a full list of testing locations, visit kauai.gov/covidtest.
A mobile vaccine clinic will be at the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center on Thursday from 1 to 5 p.m., open for those aged 12 and older. First and second doses and boosters of Pfizer and Moderna are available. No appointment is necessary.
Saturday, Ho‘ola Lahui Hawai‘i will host two walk-in vaccine clinics open to everyone aged 5 and older. In Kapa‘a, the team will be at the Ho‘ola Lahui Kaua‘i Community Health Center behind Samuel Mahelona Memorial Hospital from 9 to 11 a.m. That same day in Waimea, Ho‘ola will be inside Kaua‘i Veterans Memorial Hospital from 9 to 11 a.m.
Pediatric vaccines for children ages 5 to 11 are available at Wilcox Medical Center every Wednesday from 3:30 to 6 p.m. Make an appointment at wilcoxhealth.org/vaccine.
For a full list of locations offering vaccines or boosters, visit kauai.gov/vaccine.
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Sabrina Bodon, editor, can be reached at 245-0441 or sbodon@thegardenisland.com.
