LIHU‘E — Friday, the state Department of Health Kaua‘i District Health Office reported 17 new cases of COVID-19.
These cases consist of one visitor and 16 residents. All 17 cases are adults.
Three of the cases are related to mainland travel. The remaining 14 cases are considered community-acquired. Nine of the community-acquired infections are close contacts of a previously announced case or are tied to an active cluster. The remaining five cases have no known source of infection.
“Omicron has now been detected on O‘ahu, and it’s only a matter of time before we detect it on Kaua‘i,” Kaua‘i District Health Officer Dr. Janet Berreman said.
“Fortunately, there are steps residents and visitors can take to protect themselves. Wearing masks indoors, avoiding large gatherings, staying home if you are sick and getting tested are precautions that protect us from all COVID variants, and will help keep us safe and healthy through the holidays,” she said.
”Vaccines continue to be a strong layer of protection, especially in preventing severe disease and death. Vaccines and boosters are recommended, free, safe and effective. If you haven’t already done so, please get yours today,” stressed Berreman.”
Friday’s cases bring the number of active cases to 125, with 13 hospitalized.
To date, the county has recorded 3,242 cumulative cases.
Due to shipping delays, the mobile testing van will not be in Hanalei today nor in Kapa‘a Sunday at Mayor Bryan J. Baptiste Sports Complex.
Officials anticipate more tests to arrive on island this weekend, and the Kaua‘i War Memorial Convention Hall testing site is expected to open as usual Monday.
Free community testing is available at the Lihu‘e Pharmacy, Kolopa Street near the Puhi Safeway, daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Testing is also available through a physician’s order at Wilcox Medical Center and Kaua‘i Veterans Memorial Hospital.
For a full list of testing sites, visit kauai.gov/covidtest.
A list of vaccination locations and hours can be found at kauai.gov/vaccine.
