HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-07-29ThirteennewcasesofCOVID19onJuly29DEREK S.K. KAWAKAMI, MAYOR MICHAEL A. DAHILIG, MANAGING DIRECTOR
News Release
For Immediate Release: July 29, 2021
COUNTY OF KAUA‘I
OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
SARAH K. BLANE, CHIEF OF STAFF
(808) 241-4900
Hawai‘i State Department of Health Kaua‘i District Health Office announces 13 new
cases of COVID-19 on July 29
LĪHU‘E – The Hawai‘i State Department of Health Kaua‘i District Health Office reported 13 new
cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, July 29.
Today’s cases include four visitors and nine residents. Of the 13 cases, three are children and 10
are adults. Eight of the cases are related to mainland travel. The remaining five cases are considered
community-acquired. Only one of the community-acquired infections is a close contact of a previously
announced case. The other four have no known source of infection. Three of the hospitalized cases have
been released.
All active cases are in isolation, and close contacts are being identified, offered testing, and
directed to quarantine. Investigations are ongoing.
“Cases are rising rapidly on Kaua‘i — residents are returning from travels and school starts next
week,” said Dr. Janet Berreman, Kaua‘i District Health Officer. “If you’ve traveled recently, please get
tested. If you have any contact with anyone in our schools, please get vaccinated.”
Today’s cases bring the number of active cases to 51, with two hospitalized, and 587 cumulative
cases. Kaua‘i’s cumulative case count includes 540 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.
Many cases are in residents who have traveled. If you plan a trip, please be vaccinated before
you go. And whether or not you are vaccinated, follow Hawai‘i’s prudent rules and wear a mask in
crowded indoor settings. Finally, please get tested 3 to 5 days after you return to Kaua‘i.
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.
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.
Shown above is a photo of the free mobile testing van in Kīlauea. Free mobile testing is offered 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. The mobile testing van provides rapid PCR tests with same-
day results.
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