HomeMy WebLinkAbout20210824MODEREK S.K. KAWAKAMI, MAYOR
MICHAEL A. DAHILIG, MANAGING DIRECTOR
News Release
For Immediate Release: August 24, 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 33 new
cases of COVID-19 on Aug. 24
LĪHU‘E – The Hawai‘i State Department of Health Kaua‘i District Health Office reported 33 new
cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, Aug. 24.
Today’s cases are one visitor and 33 residents. Of the 33 new cases, three are children and 30
are adults. Seven of the cases are related to travel – five mainland and two interisland. The remaining 26
cases are considered community-acquired. Seventeen of the community-acquired infections are close
contacts of previously announced cases or are tied to one of our active clusters. The remaining nine
community-acquired cases have no known source of infection. Two of today's cases received positive
test results after their arrival on Kaua‘i.
All active cases are in isolation, and close contacts are being identified, offered testing, and
directed to quarantine. Investigations are ongoing.
“When Gov. Ige discourages travel, he means residents as well as visitors,” said Dr. Janet
Berreman, Kaua‘i District Health Officer. “Our daily cases demonstrate that our own residents’ travel to
the mainland and neighbor islands is an ongoing source of infections here on Kaua‘i. Please consider
delaying non-essential travel until this current COVID surge is under control. This is a time to stay close
to home and minimize our exposure to others.”
Today’s cases bring the number of active cases to 208, with seven hospitalized, and 1,148
cumulative cases. Kaua‘i’s cumulative case count includes 1,091 confirmed locally, eight probable, and
49 positive cases diagnosed elsewhere, as they received their pre-travel test results after arriving on
island.
DOH contact tracing and more info:
Daily case counts continue to rise rapidly, despite the Department of Health’s efforts to perform
comprehensive case investigation and contact tracing. If you test positive, please don’t wait to hear
from the Department of Health before taking action: isolate yourself at home, and let those you’ve been
in contact with know that they’ve been exposed. Your close contacts should quarantine and plan to be
tested. Your prompt action makes a difference.
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.
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.
Vaccine info:
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.
Testing info:
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.
Free drive-thru testing is also available daily at Līhu‘e Pharmacy Group, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Appointments are highly recommended, but walk-ins are welcome. For an appointment, register online
at PreventCOVIDHI.com or call (808) 635-4968. Līhu‘e Pharmacy offers PCR mid-turbinate testing.
Results are expected to be provided the same day 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.
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