More COVID tests going out

KILAUEA — Response to the free COVID-19 tests giveaway was really good on Wednesday, said Ross Kagawa of the Kaua‘i Emergency Management Agency at the Kilauea Neighborhood Center.

Kagawa, who partnered with Mayor Derek Kawakami for the first wave of distribution, said they distributed 1,000 kits in Hanalei, and with less than an hour peeled off the start time at the Kilauea Neighborhood Center had handed out over 700 kits.

Partnering also with the state Department of Health Kaua‘i District Health Office, the county will be distributing more free COVID-19 home test kits on Thursday on the Westside, and Friday in Kapa‘a and Lihu‘e.

The kits are available with a limit of five test kits per individual/household on a first-come, first-served basis, until supplies are gone.

On Thursday, the free test kits will be available at the Waimea Neighborhood Center from 9 a.m. to noon, and the Hanapepe Recreation Center from 1 to 4 p.m., or while supplies last.

Friday, the crews will be at the Bryan J. Baptiste Sports Complex in Kapa‘a from 9 a.m. to noon. They will move to the Lihu‘e Neighborhood Center from 1 to 4 p.m., or while supplies last.

Kawakami said the home test kits are one of the many tools available to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19.

According to the county, the expiration date of the COVID-19 home test kits is Nov. 2022, but the tests have received a seven-month shelf-life extension from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that make them usable until June 2023.

In addition to the free COVID-19 home test giveaway, there is COVID-19 testing available throughout the island. A full list of the county’s testing dates, times and sites can be found on kauai.gov/covidtest.

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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 808-245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.