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THE COUNTY OF KAUA‘I
DEREK S. K. KAWAKAMI, MAYOR
MICHAEL A. DAHILIG, MANAGING DIRECTOR
News Release
For Immediate Release: November 12, 2020
OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
SARAH K. BLANE, CHIEF OF STAFF
Tel (808) 241-4900
Fax (808) 241-6877
Kaua‘i Department of Health announces five new cases of COVID-19, the
highest single-day case count since June
LĪHU‘E – The Kaua‘i District Health Office confirmed five new cases of COVID-19 on
Thursday. All five cases are in isolation and their close contacts are being identified, directed to
quarantine, and offered testing. Three of the cases are Kaua‘i residents, and two are visitors.
“It is deeply concerning that we have more confirmed cases today than any day since
June,” said Mayor Derek S. K. Kawakami. “At least one of these cases is likely from community
transmission, which means that the virus is spreading on our island again. This is a critical
reminder that we cannot let our guard down – now is the time to be extra careful and wear our
masks, socially distance, avoid large gatherings, and stay home if we’re feeling sick.”
The last time the single-day case count was this high was on June 20, 2020, when
Kaua‘i reported seven cases in one day—our highest single daily count since the beginning of
the pandemic.
Two of today’s cases are classified as travel-related, and the other three cases are
under investigation at this time. One of the travelers in today’s count took a Safe Travels pre-
travel test before traveling to Kaua‘i, and results came back positive after the traveler arrived on
island.
“Travel poses a risk to our community and we urge everyone to travel only when
necessary,” said Kaua‘i District Health Officer Dr. Janet Berreman. “If you do travel off-island,
even if you receive a quarantine exemption with a pre-travel test, please minimize your contact
with others when you return and take a voluntary post-arrival test more than 72 hours after you
return. And always wear your mask, which protects you and your community by reducing the
spread of the infection.”
Kaua‘i now has 16 active cases, including two hospitalized, five in an isolation facility,
and nine in home isolation. In addition, 34 close contacts are in Department of Health-directed
quarantine, with four of those in a quarantine facility. The number of close contacts in
quarantine is expected to increase as investigation of today’s cases continues.
Kaua‘i’s cumulative case total is now 86. Of those, 77 are confirmed, 1 is probable, and
8 are confirmed positive tests performed out-of-state/off-island but reported after arrival/return to
Kaua‘i.
With today’s cases, Kaua‘i’s one-week average number of daily new cases is now at
1.57 per day. Should this increase to two or more new cases per day for two weeks, Kaua‘i
County will move to Tier 3, prompting additional restrictions. For more information and to view
the current daily average, please visit http://kauai.gov/COVID-19.
For more information on the state’s COVID-19 cases or the state's Safe Travels
program, visit hawaiicovid19.com.
For more information on the county’s voluntary post-travel testing program,
visit kauai.gov/COVID-19. For more information on the county’s new surge testing program,
visit kauai.gov/test.
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