6 New COVID Cases Confirmed on Kaua‘i

The Hawai‘i State Department of Health Kaua‘i District Health Office reported six new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, July 28.

Today’s cases are residents – five adults and one child. Four of the cases are travel-related – three mainland and one inter-island. The remaining two cases are considered community-acquired. Both of the community-acquired infections are close contacts of previously announced cases. All active cases are in isolation, and close contacts are being identified, offered testing, and directed to quarantine. Investigations are ongoing.

“As today’s cases illustrate, travel poses a risk of infection for our residents,” said Dr. Janet Berreman, Kaua‘i District Health Officer. “If you travel, please take three precautions: vaccinate before you go, wear a mask indoors, and get tested after you return. Mahalo for taking these three steps to keep yourself, your family, and our community safe and healthy.”

Today’s cases bring the number of active cases to 43, with five hospitalized, and 574 cumulative cases. Kaua‘i’s cumulative case count includes 527 confirmed locally, three probable, and 44 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.

The Kaua‘i District Health Office team continues to investigate thoroughly every case reported on Kaua‘i. Staff interviews everyone who tests positive to get information about how they may have become infected and who they may have exposed during their infectious period. Each person who is identified as a close contact is called by one of our contact tracers, and notified of their exposure. They are instructed to monitor for symptoms, and are offered testing.

All unvaccinated close contacts are instructed to quarantine. KDHO staff is in daily contact with cases and close contacts for the duration of their isolation or quarantine periods. This is a labor-intensive but effective core public health approach to disease control, and we are fortunate to have been able to continue robust case investigation and contact tracing.

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. 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 currently available at Wilcox Medical Center, Līhu‘e Longs, and Līhu‘e Safeway. For details on the vaccination sites, visit www.kauai.gov/vaccine.

Free testing is available at the Convention Hall, weekdays, from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on a first-come, first-served basis. Additionally, a free mobile testing van is available for walk-ins from 9 a.m. to 1 pm. at the Kekaha Neighborhood Center on Wednesdays, Kīlauea Neighborhood Center on Thursdays, Kalāheo Neighborhood Center Fridays, Hanalei Neighborhood Center on Saturdays, and Kapa‘a Neighborhood Center on Sundays.

Testing is also available through your primary care physician, a hospital, or an urgent care clinic. 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.