HomeMy WebLinkAboutPR_2021-12-03KDHOannounces17newcasesofCOVID-19onDec3DEREK S.K. KAWAKAMI, MAYOR MICHAEL A. DAHILIG, MANAGING DIRECTOR
News Release
For Immediate Release: December 3, 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 17 new
cases of COVID-19 on Dec. 3
LĪHU‘E – The Hawai‘i State Department of Health Kaua‘i District Health Office reported 17 new
cases of COVID-19 on Friday, Dec. 3.
Today’s cases consist of one visitor and 16 residents. All 17 cases are adults. Three of the cases
are related to mainland travel. The remaining 14 cases are considered community-acquired. Nine of the
community-acquired infections are close contacts of a previously announced case or are tied to an
active cluster. The remaining five cases have no known source of infection, including two whom
investigators have been unable to reach after repeated attempts or who have refused to provide
information.
“Omicron has now been detected on O‘ahu, and it’s only a matter of time before we detect it on
Kaua‘i,” said Dr. Janet Berreman, Kaua‘i District Health Officer. “Fortunately, there are steps residents
and visitors can take to protect themselves. Wearing masks indoors, avoiding large gatherings, staying
home if you are sick and getting tested are precautions that protect us from all COVID variants and will
help keep us safe and healthy through the holidays. Vaccines continue to be a strong layer of protection,
especially in preventing severe disease and death. Vaccines and boosters are recommended, free, safe,
and effective. If you haven’t already done so, please get yours today.”
Today’s cases bring the number of active cases to 125, with 13 hospitalized, and 3,242
cumulative cases. Kaua‘i’s cumulative case count includes 3,179 confirmed locally, eight probable, and
55 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 elevated. 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, there is no
need to 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 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 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:
If you traveled off-island, get tested three to five days after you return home.
Free testing is available at the Kaua‘i War Memorial Convention Hall, weekdays, from 8 a.m. to
3:30 p.m. However, due to limited tests available on Dec. 3, the Convention Hall testing center has run
out of tests for the day and is currently closed. Officials anticipate more tests to arrive on island this
weekend, and the Convention Hall testing site is expected to open at usual capacity on Monday, Dec. 6.
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. However, due to shipping delays, there will be limited testing at
the Kalāheo Neighborhood Center’s mobile testing van on Dec. 3. Testing will be on a first-come, first-
served basis and will close for the day once they run out of tests. The mobile testing van will be closed
on Dec. 4, in Hanalei, and on Dec. 5, in Kapa‘a.
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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