LIHU‘E — The state Department of Health Kaua‘i District Health Office confirmed five new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday. All five cases are in isolation and their close contacts are being identified, directed to quarantine and offered testing.
Three of the cases are Kaua‘i residents, and two are visitors.
“It is deeply concerning that we have more confirmed cases today than any day since June,” said Mayor Derek Kawakami.
“At least one of these cases is likely from community transmission, which means that the virus is spreading on our island again. This is a critical reminder that we cannot let our guard down. Now is the time to be extra careful and wear our masks, socially distance, avoid large gatherings and stay home if we’re feeling sick.”
The last time the single-day case count was this high was on June 20, when Kaua‘i reported seven cases in one day — the highest single daily count since the beginning of the pandemic.
Two of Thursday’s cases are classified as travel-related, and the other three cases are under investigation at this time. One of the travelers in Thursday’s count took a Safe Travels pre-travel test before traveling to Kaua‘i, and results came back positive after the traveler arrived on-island.
“Travel poses a risk to our community, and we urge everyone to travel only when necessary,” said Kaua‘i District Health Officer Dr. Janet Berreman.
“If you do travel off-island, even if you receive a quarantine exemption with a pre-travel test, please minimize your contact with others when you return, and take a voluntary post-arrival test more than 72 hours after you return. And always wear your mask, which protects you and your community by reducing the spread of the infection.”
Kaua‘i now has 16 active cases, including two hospitalized, five in an isolation facility, and nine in home isolation. In addition, 34 close contacts are in DOH-directed quarantine, with four of those in a quarantine facility. The number of close contacts in quarantine is expected to increase as investigation of Thursday’s cases continues.
Kaua‘i’s cumulative case total is now 86. Of those, 77 are confirmed, one is probable, and eight are confirmed positive tests performed out-of-state/off-island but reported after arrival/return to Kaua‘i.
For more information on the state’s COVID-19 cases or the state’s Safe Travels program, visit hawaiicovid19.com.
For more information on the county’s voluntary post-travel testing program, visit kauai.gov/COVID-19. For more information on the county’s new surge-testing program, visit kauai.gov/test.
Kollar ‘prosecuting attorney’ lays out a TGI report on Kauaians following rules and if we dont’ comply? Why are judiciary clowns having any kind of say at all, when they should be focusing on the islands-wide corruption of other P.A. like himself towards resolve of the “guilty Kealoha stolen mailbox fraud”, the miske hui, cabal, mafia, OR their delusions that Kollar P.A. Department plans, making offices and moving into the Adolescent Treatment Center behind Kalepa instead? As Well as, the comment Der’ika, the surfer descedant of the Big Save mogal’ comment made, from P.A. Kollar directive and publishing, and those who do NOT follow the directives are to “cut bait”!?
Priceless! Typical and really stupid undereducated, selfish, money grubbing collusionists who care nothing until one of their own bites the dust! Only then will life, liberty, and freedom rule over money.
Meanwhile at PMRF, the 2022 USAF, Navy building plans continues erection of the 12-story Ballistic Missile launch-intercept facility, Mana! Mana plains, so military can continue to control two Napali ridges, NASA at Kokee west to McArthur Park, where the PMRF gate will be repositioned to, and no civilians can enjoy Polihale nor Majors Bay ever again!
Why take a pre-travel test and get on a plane before getting results? Makes absolutely zero sense.
That’s the system as designed. The normal test that is widely available takes 3 days to get results, and you have to take the test within 3 days of travel.
Mr. Mayor, will this monster have to start killing people on Kauai before you initiate lockdown and curfews again?
Keep the residents out !!! they are bringing the virus 3 to 1 over visitors !
What’s the difference between a “Quarantine Facility” & an “Isolation Facility”? Secondly, where are these facilities located & are they considered care-facilities?
Please clarify this, TGI. The general public would like to know in case WE get assigned to one in the future.
Why is our Mayor Kawakami surprised? Did he and the State level bureaucrats not anticipate the upcoming major Hawaiian CV outbreak? If not, why not? Why are all restaurants and bars seated to maximum occupancy?
There is no leadership in Hawaii for this pandemic. The hospitality industry is calling the shots. Look for Cruise Boats to start arriving soon, with infected travelers.
You would think Hawaiians would have learned from Capt Cook / Small Pox. Nope
“At least one of these cases is likely from community transmission, which means that the virus is spreading on our island again”
Yeah, after being brought over here by travelers (both tourists and returning residents). We had nothing here to spread before opening up with Ige’s lame plan. Tier 2 (and quarantine) here we come!! At this rate I predict we will be there by the end of December.
More information on the infected person withing telling their name would be more helpful than tracing. Like have they been out shopping, use public transportation? ect
I meant w “without” telling persons name.
This so-called “safe travel” program makes it quite clear that at this time there is no such thing as safe travel. It is obvious that if we don’t close now we will inevitably need to close later at a disastrously steeper cost to us all.
“Deeply concerning,” my brown arse!
Kawakami let this happen, he knew full well what the results would be once he re-opened our island to tourists without quarantine or second testing, and still he’s not doing anything to help slow down the spread except issue pointless superficial statements to the news.
Be sure to remember all this when he runs for re-election!
I too disagreed with the Mayor opening up with Ige and Green’s lame plan and I am sure that he now regrets doing so, but other than that one mis-step Mayor Kawakami has done a pretty good job of keeping Covid at bay on this island. Lt Gov Green is the one we need to NOT vote for in the Governor’s race, he has pushed this lame plan on us “whether we like it or not” and refused to adjust it as we wanted it. Obviously does what he wants and DOES NOT listen to the people!!!
No matter how much signage, ad’s on the island and on air, the visitors fail to get the message and still do not use their masks. Saw it at Poipu Beach Park, just this morning AT kUAMOO/kUHIO hWY, about 30 tourist was congregating in the parking lot waiting for their kayak ride to begin, none of them were using their face mask, there is NO WAY you can tell us they were all from the same household.
NO RESPECT…SEND THEM BACK!
Joe
You are correct.
Mayor Kawakami please PLEASE
SHUTER DOWN
Tourist are everywhere with no mask
No mask
No respect.
Ive seen them anywhere from the restaurants to kayak rentals, gatherings, outside if condos, groups everywhere. Mind-blowing.
We HAVE to shut this down before its too far gone.WE
Can DO THIS.
Weve Done it before we can do it again. We have food we have land we don’t need tourism we have dealt With worse conditions and re always prevail.
At minimum we should be waiting for a vaccine for at least a year it’s not going to be forever.
The island is to small for this nonsense.
Just do the right thing and push this through, and begin the curfews and quarantines we still have a window of time.
PLEASE PLEASE push the restrictions, for the islands sake.
THIS IS A BIG DEAL.
I saw that group too! But it’s not them, it’s the residents that are spreading Covid!
Sorry Kauai, I want to come back, but I think it would be better for our long term relationship if we stayed apart just a little longer.
P.S. I miss you and send my love and prayers.
Why as the rest of the country goes into lockdown, are we still accepting travelers from these regions? I believe you have done a good job so far, and I understand the pressures of the economy. It is time for you to lead, and demonstrate care for your citizens. Re-implement a quarantine requirement for all travelers, before you create a situation of unsustainable demand on the healthcare system. When these sick tourists arrive, we are stuck with them in our fragile healthcare system because they can’t get on a plane and return home. We are importing problems! This is a very real threat to our island!
“These sick tourists”.
Are “tourists” really the largest group testing positive? Does a positive test = “sick”?
“they can’t get on a plane and return home”
Why not? Do we not have enough CARES funds to send one “quarantine” flight per day back to San Diego?
Virus gonna virus.
This is just so disheartening! Mayor, what does it take to see that opening this way is going to get people killed? You can maintain a humble manner as if your hands are tied, or you can take meaningful action and stop this insane way of opening. Why wait until a child brings it home from school and takes out a relative – they’ll be scarred for life. So unnecessary!