LIHU‘E — Kaua‘i high schools will hold in-person graduation ceremonies tonight, as the county records another COVID-19 fatality and a rising case count.
Mayor Derek Kawakami acknowledged the situations in Thursday’s County briefing, offering both congratulations and caution.
“We are so proud of you, and we can’t wait to see how you will change the world,” he told the Class of 2022.
The Hawai‘i Department of Education has returned to in-person graduation ceremonies this year, with safety measures in place.
COVID-19 safety protocols differ between graduation ceremonies, Interim Superintendent Keith Hayashi told reporters last week, claiming schools were given flexibility based on site-specific factors like venue location.
HIDOE also distributed half a million home test kits to schools in the weeks preceding graduation, according to the interim superintendent.
Kawakami expressed approval of the in-person ceremonies’ return on Thursday.
”But as we continue to say, we must be mindful of our health and safety and the health and safety of those around us,” the mayor added. “Please use good judgement and wear a high-quality, well-fitting mask when in crowded setting. And please, stay home if you are sick.”
Kaua‘i County’s seven-day case average is now 63 cases a day, up from 48 last week, per Kawakami and the online Hawai‘i Emergency Management Agency information dashboard.
The local test positivity rate has increased to 23% and remains the highest test positivity rate in the state.
These developments are joined by a recent announcement from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The CDC increased Kaua‘i County’s COVID-19 Community Level to “High” week, using weekly metrics including the case rate per population of 100,000, new COVID-19 admissions per population of 100,000 and the percentage of staffed inpatient beds in use by patients with confirmed COVID-19.
Since then, the CDC has set nearly all other island community levels to High. Only Hawai‘i County’s COVID-9 Community Level remained at “Medium,” at press time.
“We are also saddened to report a COVID-related death that occurred earlier this week,” Kawakami said. “The male resident was in his 90s and had been hospitalized. Our condolences go out to his family and loved ones.”
Thirteen Kaua‘i patients are currently hospitalized, per the HIEMA dashboard. But none are ventilated or occupy an Intensive Care Unit bed.
The county’s last recorded COVID-19 death occurred in late April, when Kawakami announced the passing of a hospitalized, 70-year-old man.
The Kaua‘i District Health Office has over a dozen active clusters under investigation, according to Kawakami. Some clusters have been identified among school-age children, as well.
When asked if increased COVID-19 metrics have prompted the County to consider an indoor mask mandate, a County spokesperson indicated “no,” late last week.
“The previous mask mandate fell under the Governor’s emergency proclamation and it was not a County mandate,” the spokesperson told The Garden Island. “That said, no further COVID restrictions, including a new indoor mask mandate, are anticipated.”
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Scott Yunker, reporter, can be reached at 245-0437 or syunker@thegardenisland.com.
