Island-Wide Rise in COVID-19 Cases Continues

The Hawai‘i State Department of Health Kaua‘i District Health Office reported four new cases of COVID-19 on Monday, July 12.

The cases are all residents – three adults and one child. The source of infection for one of the cases is mainland travel; the remaining three are community-acquired. One of today’s community-acquired cases is in a close contact of a previously announced case. The other two have no known source of infection. All active cases are in isolation and close contacts are being identified, offered testing, and directed to quarantine. Investigations are ongoing.

“We continue to see a rise in cases islandwide. This is likely due to gatherings around the Fourth of July weekend and decreased attention to wearing masks and distancing, especially in groups that include unvaccinated individuals,” said Dr. Janet Berreman, Kaua‘i District Health Officer. “As a reminder, masks are still required indoors and play a critical role in disease control. Please continue to wear your mask, isolate yourself and arrange to be tested if you are feeling sick, and if you have to travel, please get a post-test 3 to 5 days after your return. If you haven’t already, please protect yourself and our community by getting vaccinated.”

Monday’s cases bring the number of active cases to 33, with one hospitalized, and 469 cumulative cases. Kaua‘i’s cumulative case count includes 425 confirmed locally, three probable, and 41 positive cases diagnosed elsewhere, as they received their pre-travel test results after arriving on island.

If you have symptoms or are feeling sick, you should isolate yourself immediately, stay away from household members, and not go out – including to work or school – unless you are seeking testing or getting health care. Those who have been vaccinated should still be tested if they believe they may have been exposed or if they feel sick.

Residents aged 18 and older are eligible for any vaccine available at pharmacy, hospital, and clinic locations. The Pfizer vaccine has been authorized for use in those 12 years of age and older, and are available at hospitals and pharmacies islandwide.

Vaccination is free and widely available on the island, including on weekends and evenings and pop-up vaccination opportunities at community sites. Many vaccination sites accept walk-ins. For details, visit www.kauai.gov/vaccine. Those who plan to travel can protect themselves and their families by being fully vaccinated before traveling.

Free testing is regularly open at the Convention Hall, weekdays, from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on a first-come, first-served basis. Testing is also available through your primary care physician, a hospital, or an urgent care clinic. Please contact those providers directly for more information. For more details, visit https://www.kauai.gov/covidtest.

For more information on the county’s COVID-19 response, visit www.kauai.gov/COVID-19.