LIHU‘E — Kaua‘i has the lowest number of people tested for COVID-19 in the state, according to new numbers released by the state Department of Health.
The DOH posted testing numbers and percentages of positive test results by county on its website Friday, and tallied 1,062 COVID-19 laboratory tests done so far on Kaua‘i, as of April 16.
Kaua‘i’s percentage of positive test results is at 1.8%, according to DOH reports.
DOH also reported 2,749 tests done in Hawai‘i County, with 1.6% returning positive; 12,061 tests done in the City &County of Honolulu, with 3% returning positive; and 3,852 tests done in Maui County, with 2.5% returning positive.
On Friday, DOH Kaua‘i District Health Officer Dr. Janet Berreman acknowledged the county’s testing for COVID-19 “looks different” than the large-scale testing that’s being done on other islands.
“We do have community testing here on Kaua‘i,” Berreman said Friday. “Testing here and elsewhere is also dynamic, like nearly every aspect of the pandemic. It will change in the coming weeks.”
Among the anticipated changes to the testing include an increased capacity, rapid testing, and blood tests that will help identify people who have been exposed but may not have had symptoms.
“Blood tests may also allow us to determine who has had the disease and may be immune to it,” Berreman said.
Health experts reminded the Kaua‘i public Friday that restrictions on testing statewide are being loosened to include contact testing, but a doctor’s order is still required to get tested for the virus.
Testing information and percentages of positive results can be found at health.hawaii.gov and clicking on the “more details” button on the homepage.
•••
Jessica Else, editor-in-chief, can be reached at 245-0457 or jelse@thegardenisland.com.
Why is everyone so hung up on testing? If your not sick, why in heck would you want to know if you’ve had Corona? So you can tell a good story? I for one will never get an antibody test; anyone know about HeLa cells and Henrietta Lacks? Once your blood leaves you body, it’s not yours, and I am not that altruistic….. If I already had Corona or if I am going to get it, I am not worried about it- Just like with any other virus exposure, my immune system will do its job. And no thanks to a vaccine either!!!
Citizens are making great sacrifices, with some out of work struggling to feed families. Government not doing enough to prepare for cases. Just because a curve is flattened does not mean there are not the same number of cases under the curve. If I understand it correctly the same number will be infected just over a longer time so they can be treated. Let’s ramp up our health care system and make sure we have supplies to protect our medical staff and first responders. It would be nice to see an article showing our increase in medical preparedness . This would alleviate anxiety.