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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20210902MODEREK S.K. KAWAKAMI, MAYOR MICHAEL A. DAHILIG, MANAGING DIRECTOR News Release For Immediate Release: September 2, 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 announce 63 new cases of COVID-19 on Sept. 2 LĪHU‘E – The Hawai‘i State Department of Health Kaua‘i District Health Office announced 63 new cases on Thursday, Sept. 2. Today’s cases are all residents. Of today’s new cases, 20 are children and 43 are adults. Three of the cases are related to travel – one mainland and two interisland. The remaining 60 new cases are considered community-acquired. Forty-four of the community-acquired infections are close contacts of previously announced cases or are tied to one of our active clusters. The remaining 16 community- acquired cases have no known source of infection. Two new places of worship clusters have been identified along with several small occupational clusters. Active cases are directed to isolate, and close contacts are being identified, offered testing, and directed to quarantine. Investigations are ongoing. “This holiday weekend, our choices and actions will determine how much suffering this island will have to endure in the month to come,” said Mayor Derek S. K. Kawakami. “Our case count is at a record high. So please, adjust your plans. Avoid large indoor gatherings. If you are going to be around others, do it outside. Avoid closed spaces with poor ventilation. Avoid crowded places. Avoid close- range conversations. Wear masks if you spend time with people from outside of your household. If you travel, get tested a few days after you return. These simple steps are our best hope to prevent more sickness and death.” Today’s cases bring the number of active cases to 325, with five hospitalized, and 1,504 cumulative cases. Kaua‘i’s cumulative case count includes 1,447 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 is currently available at Wilcox Medical Center, Līhu‘e Longs, Līhu‘e Safeway, Kaiser Permanente Līhu‘e Clinic, and Hoʽōla Lāhui clinics in Waimea and Kapa‘a. The vaccine van operated by Wilcox Health and Hawai‘i Pacific Health will be in Hanapēpē on Friday, and Hanalei on Saturday. The van will operate open from noon to 3 p.m. each day. The Ho‘ola Lāhui pop-up clinics will be open this Saturday at the Kaumakani Community Hall and the Anaina Hou Farmers Market from 9 to 11 a.m. No appointment needed. The pop-up clinic and hospital van are open to everyone 12 and older. 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 the Bryan J. Baptiste Sports Complex in Kapa‘a 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. ###