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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 13, 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 two new cases of COVID-19
LĪHU‘E —The Kaua‘i District Health Office confirmed two new cases of COVID-19 on
Friday.
One of the cases is a child resident, who is a close contact of a case announced
Thursday. The other case is an adult female resident. Both are community-acquired infections
and neither is hospitalized. Their close contacts are being identified, directed to quarantine, and
offered testing.
“This week’s increase in cases is deeply worrisome,” said Mayor Derek S. K. Kawakami.
“New cases of community transmission show that the virus is spreading on our island again.
Now is the time to keep your guard up and remain vigilant. Please wear your mask, keep a safe
physical distance from others, and avoid large gatherings, especially as we approach the
holiday season."
Both new cases appear to have acquired the illness locally, and not during travel.
“The threat we face from COVID-19 is greater now than at any earlier point in the
pandemic. We must consider decisive policy actions in addition to continued diligence in mask-
wearing and other protective behaviors,” said Kaua‘i District Health Officer Dr. Janet Berreman.
“Community spread is the biggest risk that travel poses—when we travel, or when
visitors come to our island, disease is introduced here. Once introduced, it behaves as it has
everywhere else in the world: it spreads rapidly through communities unless brought under
control by local action. We don’t want to lose all the headway we have made in the months
since March,” she added.
With today’s cases and the five reported yesterday, Kaua‘i now has 17 active cases,
including two hospitalized. In addition, 44 close contacts are in Department of Health-directed
quarantine. Kaua‘i’s cumulative case total is now 88. Of those, 79 are confirmed, one is
probable, and eight are confirmed positive tests performed out-of-state or off-island but reported
after their arrival to Kaua‘i.
With today’s cases, Kaua‘i’s daily average over a one-week period is approaching two. If
it reaches two and stays there, Kaua‘i County will move to Tier 3, prompting additional
restrictions. For more information and to view the current daily average and for information on
the county’s voluntary post-travel testing program, please visit 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 information on the county’s new surge testing program, visit kauai.gov/test.
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