HomeMy WebLinkAbout20210923MODEREK S.K. KAWAKAMI, MAYOR
MICHAEL A. DAHILIG, MANAGING DIRECTOR
News Release
For Immediate Release: September 23, 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 Di strict Health Office announces 23 new
cases of COVID-19 on Sept. 23
LĪHU‘E – The Hawai‘i State Department of Health Kaua‘i District Health Office
announced 23 new cases on Thursday, Sept. 23.
Today’s cases consist of two visitors and 21 residents. Of the 23 new cases, nine are
children and 14 are adults. Four of the cases are related to travel – two mainland and two
interisland. The remaining 19 cases are considered community-acquired. Ten 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 one whom investigators have been unable to reach after repeated attempts
or who has refused to provide information.
Active cases are directed to isolate, and close contacts are being identified, offered
testing, and directed to quarantine. Investigations are ongoing.
Today’s cases bring the number of active cases to 240, with seven hospitalized, and
2,189 cumulative cases. Kaua‘i’s cumulative case count includes 2,130 confirmed locally, eight
probable, and 51 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 remain high 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.
Most reported cases are in residents who were infected in the community. Everyone,
vaccinated or not, must follow Hawaii’s indoor mask requirements and gathering size limits. In
addition, if you plan to travel, please be vaccinated before you go, and get tested 3-5 days after
you return to Kaua‘i. 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.
Links to home-isolation/quarantine guidelines from DOH:
· https://hawaiicovid19.com/testing-isolation-quarantine/
· https://hawaiicovid19.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Summary-Guidance-for-
COVID-19-Cases-and-Contacts.pdf
· https://health.hawaii.gov/coronavirusdisease2019/files/2020/04/What-To-Do-If-You-
Have-Been-Tested-For-COVID19_040120.pdf
Vaccine info:
Vaccination remains the most important action each of us can take to slow and prevent
the spread of disease in our community. Vaccinations are widely available to anyone 12 years of
age or older and are free, safe, and effective.
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 can be requested to your business, event, or home by filling out the
survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CBQCWY7 or calling the Kaua‘i District Health
Office at 241-3495.
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 Kaua‘i War Memorial Convention Hall, weekdays, from 8
a.m. to 3:30 p.m. If there is a wait, you will receive a ticket with a time to return for your test.
Arrive anytime the clinic is open to receive a timed ticket; no need to arrive early.
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.
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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