HomeMy WebLinkAbout20210828MODEREK S.K. KAWAKAMI, MAYOR
MICHAEL A. DAHILIG, MANAGING DIRECTOR
News Release
For Immediate Release: August 28, 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 49 new
cases of COVID-19 on Aug. 28
LĪHU‘E – The Hawai‘i State Department of Health Kaua‘i District Health Office announced 49 new
cases on Saturday, Aug. 28.
Today’s cases are three visitors and 46 residents. Of the 49 new cases, 15 are children and 34
are adults. Six of the cases are related to travel – five mainland and one interisland. The remaining 43
cases are considered community-acquired. Thirty-four 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, including two cases whom investigators
have been unable to reach after repeated attempts or who have refused to provide information. We
currently have the following active clusters: two social gatherings, two places of worship, one shelter,
one correctional facility, one educational, and one occupational cluster in a construction/industrial
company.
All active cases are in isolation, and close contacts are being identified, offered testing, and
directed to quarantine. Investigations are ongoing.
“As of today, we have exceeded our capacity for case investigation and contact tracing on Kaua‘i
despite bringing on new staff daily. This means that you may not hear from us in the same timeframe
our community has become accustomed to. If you test positive, please isolate yourself at home
immediately and notify your close contacts,” said Lauren Guest, Public Health Preparedness Planner for
the Kaua‘i District Office. “I would like to take this opportunity to thank our entire Kaua‘i District Health
Office team for their tireless efforts to protect our community by controlling the spread of disease on
our island. It can be a difficult and, at times, thankless job. Please know that your efforts have made an
enormous difference and are greatly appreciated by the majority of our community.”
Mayor Derek S. K. Kawakami also thanked the Kaua‘i District Health Office team for their work
to protect the health and safety of the community.
“Words cannot express my infinite gratitude to our team at the Kaua‘i District Health Office,”
said Mayor Kawakami. “Mahalo to your families and loved ones for their sacrifice and patience as you
have and continue to keep our island safe.”
Dr. Janet Berreman, Kaua‘i District Health Officer, emphasized that at this point, island-wide or
statewide restrictions will be required to bring this surge under control.
“Until such measures are in place, each of us can do our part. If you test positive, isolate at
home immediately, and let your contacts know they have been exposed,” said Dr. Berreman.
Today’s cases bring the number of active cases to 276, with six hospitalized, and 1,322
cumulative cases. Kaua‘i’s cumulative case count includes 1,265 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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