HomeMy WebLinkAboutPR_2021-09-18Announces37newcasesofCOVID-19onSept18DEREK S.K. KAWAKAMI, MAYOR MICHAEL A. DAHILIG, MANAGING DIRECTOR
News Release
For Immediate Release: September 18, 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 37 new
cases of COVID-19 on Sept. 18
LĪHU‘E – The Hawai‘i State Department of Health Kaua‘i District Health Office announced 37 new
cases on Saturday, Sept. 18.
Today’s cases are all residents. Of the 37 new cases, 10 are children and 27 are adults. One of
the cases is related to mainland travel. The remaining 36 cases are considered community-acquired.
Twenty-eight of the community-acquired infections are close contacts of previously announced cases or
are tied to one of our active clusters. The remaining 8 community-acquired cases have no known source
of infection, including three whom investigators have been unable to reach after repeated attempts or
who have 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 267, with five hospitalized, and 2,079
cumulative cases. Kaua‘i’s cumulative case count includes 2,020 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 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.
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. on a first-come, first-served basis. To avoid long wait times, staff will distribute a limited
number of tickets with a specific time to return for the free test.
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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