LIHU‘E — Health officials reported a daily average of 24 new cases of COVID-19 last week, continuing a two-month trend of declining case counts.
“With school back in session next week, families can take precautions to protect themselves and help slow the spread of COVID in our community,” said Kaua‘i District Health Officer Dr. Janet Berreman.
“Safety measures include wearing a well-fitting mask indoors and getting up to date on your vaccinations and boosters. And of course, stay home if you are sick.”
While masking is recommended by public health officials, it is not required in schools.
According to the Hawai‘i Public Schools website, “indoor masking is strongly encouraged (but not required)” if COVID-19 Community Levels are medium or high, following exposure to someone who tested positive and for five days after travel.
A man in his 70s passed away from the virus this week, one of several COVID-related deaths in the last few months.
President Joe Biden announced his recovery from COVID-19 Wednesday after he came down with a case of the virus last week.
Biden, who is fully vaccinated, described the case as “mild,” and credited vaccines, booster shots and the Paxlovid antiviral treatment with his quick recovery.
Last week, Kaua‘i reported its first monkeypox case discovered in a non-resident who was diagnosed on island. As of last week, there were 11 total Monkeypox cases in the state.
The World Health Organization declared monkeypox a global health emergency July 23.
Monkeypox typically presents in the form of a fever, rash and swollen lymph nodes and may lead to a range of medical complications.
According to the WHO:
“Human-to-human transmission can result from close contact with respiratory secretions, skin lesions of an infected person or recently contaminated objects. Transmission via droplet respiratory particles usually requires prolonged face-to-face contact.”
Nationwide and in Hawai‘i, the current cases are primarily spreading among social networks of gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men.
“The risk to most Hawai‘i residents remains low,” said Berreman. “However, anyone who has close contact with someone who is sick with monkeypox can be infected, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.”
The JYNNEOS vaccine for prevention of monkeypox is currently available in very limited supply, for those 18 years of age and older who meet eligibility requirements.
Individuals are eligible for the vaccine if they had a known exposure to someone with monkeypox in the last 14 days.
Those who are eligible can call the Department of Health at 808-586-4462 to schedule an appointment.
