HomeMy WebLinkAbout20211224MODEREK S.K. KAWAKAMI, MAYOR
MICHAEL A. DAHILIG, MANAGING DIRECTOR
News Release
For Immediate Release: December 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 43 new
cases of COVID-19 on Dec. 24
LĪHU‘E – The Hawai‘i State Department of Health Kaua‘i District Health Office announced 43 new
cases of COVID-19 on Friday, Dec. 24.
Today’s cases consist of four visitors and 39 residents. Of the 43 new cases, three are children
and 40 are adults. Twenty-three of the cases are related to travel – 16 mainland and seven interisland.
The remaining 20 cases are considered community-acquired. Twelve of the community-acquired
infections are close contacts of a previously announced case or are tied to an active cluster. The
remaining eight cases have no known source of infection, including four whom investigators have been
unable to reach after repeated attempts or who have refused to provide information. One of today's
cases did not receive their positive test result until after their arrival on Kaua‘i.
Today’s cases bring the number of active cases to 189, with four hospitalized, and 3,584
cumulative cases. Kaua‘i’s cumulative case count includes 3,517 confirmed locally, eight probable, and
59 positive cases diagnosed elsewhere, as they received their pre-travel test results after arriving on
island.
In observance of Christmas Day, there will be no COVID-19 news release tomorrow, Dec. 25.
Kaua‘i cases for Friday and Saturday will be reported on Sunday.
DOH contact tracing and more info:
Cases are rapidly rising on Kaua‘i, likely due to the Omicron variant, and cases are expected to
continue to rise. The Department of Health case investigators and contact tracers call all new cases,
generally within a day or two of a positive test.
If you test positive for COVID, there is no need to wait to hear from the Department of Health
before taking the following actions:
Isolate yourself at home,
Stay in a separate room and ask others to bring you meals,
Do not socialize with your family,
Wear your mask when you leave your room,
Let those you’ve been in contact with know that they’ve been exposed,
Your close contacts should quarantine and plan to be tested,
If you require medical care, please call your healthcare provider and let them know you tested
positive.
If you need urgent medical care, call 911 and let dispatchers know that you are positive.
If you have symptoms, are feeling sick, you should isolate yourself immediately, stay away from
household members, and not go out – including to work, school, and holiday celebrations or services –
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.
In observance of the Christmas and New Year’s Day holidays, staffing will be reduced at the
Kaua‘i District Health Office during those holiday weekends.
Most reported cases are in residents who were infected in the community. Everyone, vaccinated
or not, must follow Hawai‘i’s indoor mask requirements and gathering size limits. In addition, if you plan
to travel, please be vaccinated before you go, and get tested three to five 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/2021/08/What-To-Do-If-You-Have-
Been-Tested-For-COVID-19.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 available to anyone 5 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 5 years of age and older, and is currently available at Wilcox Medical Center, Kaua‘i Veterans
Memorial Hospital (KVMH), and Kaiser Permanente Līhu‘e Clinic.
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:
If you traveled off-island, get tested three to five days after you return home.
In observance of the Christmas Day holiday, the Kaua‘i War Memorial Conventional Hall testing
center will be closed on Dec. 24. Mobile testing will be closed on Dec. 24 at the Kalāheo Neighborhood
Center and Dec. 25. at the Hanalei Neighborhood Center.
The Convention Hall’s testing center’s normal operations and free testing is available 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 normally 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 required. 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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