11 New COVID-19 Cases Confirmed on Garden Isle

The Hawai‘i State Department of Health Kaua‘i District Health Office reported 11 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, Aug. 4.

Today’s cases consist of six residents and five visitors. Of the eleven new cases, nine are adults and two are children. Ten of the cases are related to mainland travel. The remaining case is considered community-acquired and is not a close contact of previously announced cases. This case has 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.

“As today’s cases illustrate, travel poses a risk of infection,” 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 three to five days after arrival to Kaua‘i. Mahalo for taking these steps to keep yourself, your family, and our community safe and healthy.”

Today’s cases bring the number of active cases to 71, with three hospitalized, and 642 cumulative cases. Kaua‘i’s cumulative case count includes 591 confirmed locally, six probable, and 45 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.

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 p.m. at the Kekaha Neighborhood Center on Wednesdays, Kīlauea Neighborhood Center on Thursdays, Kalāheo Neighborhood Center on Fridays, Hanalei Neighborhood Center on Saturdays, and Kapa‘a Neighborhood Center on Sundays. Testing performed at the Convention Hall and through the mobile testing van is rapid PCR. Same-day results are sent via email.

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.