HONOLULU — The state Department of Health’s State Laboratories Division confirms the SARS-CoV-2 variant B.1.617.2, also known as the delta variant of concern, is spreading in the state.
To date, there have been three cases of the delta variant associated with travel from the mainland. Two of those cases are on O‘ahu and one is on Hawai‘i Island.
In addition, the SLD has identified the delta variant in a specimen from an O‘ahu resident with no history of travel. The DOH is investigating to determine the extent of household and community transmission.
All the persons with COVID-19 caused by the delta variant have been symptomatic. None have been hospitalized. Only one of the four persons was fully vaccinated for COVID-19. In the three travel-related cases, all household members and close contacts who were fully vaccinated for COVID-19 have tested negative.
“A recently-published study from Scotland found that the risk of COVID-19 hospital admission was approximately double in those with the delta variant when compared to those with the B.1.1.7 strain, also known as the U.K. or alpha variant,” said SLD Administrator Edward Desmond.
The delta variant, which was first detected in India, now makes up approximately 10% of all cases in the U.S. The delta variant could soon become the dominant strain of SARS-CoV-2 in the nation, according the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“Given what we know about the delta variant and the cases already identified in Hawai‘i, we expect to detect additional cases in the coming weeks,” said Dr. Sarah Kemble, acting state epidemiologist. “Our best defense against of the variants is to get vaccinated as soon as possible.”
The COVID-19 vaccines authorized for use in the U.S. are effective against COVID-19 variants currently spreading in the nation.
The SLD began genome sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 in June 2020. It now examines 50 to 100 specimens a week, and has developed a testing algorithm designed to find variants in a timely manner.
Information on where to get vaccinated is available at hawaiicovid19.com/vaccine.
The DOH Health Kaua‘i District Health Office reported one new case of COVID-19 on Tuesday.
Tuesday’s case is an adult resident whose source of infection is considered community-acquired and is not related to any active clusters currently identified.
All active cases are in isolation, and close contacts are being identified, offered testing and directed to quarantine. Investigations are ongoing.
Tuesday’s case brings the number of active cases to 16, including one hospitalized, with 389 cumulative cases.
Free testing at the Kaua‘i War Memorial Convention Hall in Lihu‘e is available weekdays from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on a first-come, first-served basis. Testing is also available through primary-care physicians, hospitals and urgent-care clinics.
Residents aged 18 and older are eligible for any vaccine available at pharmacies, hospitals and clinics. The Pfizer vaccine has been authorized for use in those 12 years of age and older, and appointments are available at hospitals and pharmacies for this age group.
Vaccination is free and widely available on the island, including on weekends and evenings and pop-up vaccination opportunities at community sites. Many vaccination sites accept walk-ins. For details, visit kauai.gov/vaccine.
Who cares about variants – are people dying or not? No.
1.3% death toll rate for the whole state. Only 2 for Kaua’i. But if you go to California, more people there, and more chance of catching the virus. Death rate now increases. Because the base denominator is now case count, not the population. Death toll is determined from that denominator.
It is also important to note that the lion’s share of mortality occurs to those over 60. Under 60 there is drastic drop in mortality. 407 of the 497 deaths attributed to COVID were 60 and over. Also, 496 of the 497 deaths attributed to COVID had underlying conditions. The mortality rate adjusted for those under 60 is 0.24%. Under 50 the mortality rate is 0.09%. COVID is not dangerous for the younger population and if we believe that the vaccines are effective and the majority of older folks are already immune than it is impossible to see a rise in death rate regardless of travel. The data does not support an increasing death rate at this point. Please refer to https://health.hawaiigov/coronavirusdisease2019/current-situation-in-hawaii/ to verify anything I wrote for yourself.
That doesn’t make sense, why change the denominator? It’s a low IFR everywhere you go. It’s not a dangerous virus.
Yes…
Only 1 person is claimed to have died on Kaua’i, and this was a resident already living off island for several months. At least that is how the person was described in the news.
The other person was an 85 year male who died from cancer. His death was not by covid.
Thus the death toll is actually more than likely ZERO %. But if you include the off island resident the % is 0.000014% of the population, or 1 in 70,000 people.
And the resident who died living off island, we were not informed of his or her age, or how many pre-existing diseases they had, nor how many highly toxic prescription drugs they were currently or long term taking, nor whether or not they were obese, a common condition for those who are dying while having Covid.
Obesity is often the starter for the 5 Cousin Diseases of Obesity, Diabetes, and Heart-Stroke-High Blood Pressure Diseases, the combination of which lead to the prescription of several potent toxic drugs.
It is apparent that all deaths in America for people with Covid, are all under ongoing Medical Care taking daily and numerous medications and prescription drugs.
It’s kind of like which came first that caused the death, was it actually Covid or was it the numerous pre-existing diseases and the 20, 30, and even 40 years of the taking of and accumulation of the toxic prescription drugs.
Some drugs can kill with a single dose, so certainly 40 years of taking numerous prescription drugs can kill people whether or not they have Covid, or any other of the previous years variants of mutated flu viruses.
Apparently prior years of flu viruses have killed more than this specie of Covid virus and its variants. Makes you wonder why the all of a sudden push for vaccinations…of even 12 year olds.
And Covid vaccinating 12 year olds and teens is causing Myocarditis Disease in the youth. That is inflammation of the heart muscle, a serious disease in anyone much less youth.
This is proof that the so called scientists don’t know what the vaccines do, much less what they can only hope, but cannot prove what they are doing with the virus. Heart attack conditions in youth are not acceptable as a side effect of vaccines, much less brain blood clots and other side effects like leaking vaccine toxins through the Blood Brain (protective) Barrier.
And why the rush to irreversible vaccine side effects when 98% of the people do not even get sick or have symptoms when they get Covid. Something is odd they want all people vaccinated, we never needed it in prior years with even more flu deaths than Covid.
People must realize that all virus mutate into Variants of themselves for the simple reason of survival, that’s just what virus do as they migrate between the earth’s hemispheres. Western hemisphere such as North America to Europe and onto Asia and vice-versa.
And same as the outbreaks annually travel and mutate from the winter climate of the Northern Hemisphere to the opposing winter climate of the Southern Hemisphere.
Each mutation develops a new Variant of the virus.
Fortunately a relatively healthy person with a healthy immune system can handle these annual virus, like Covid, and its variants.
In fact the Covid virus was circling the Northern Hemisphere before it seasonally showed up in abundance in the Southern Hemisphere causing deaths in countries of Africa and South Anerica and Australia, just like all the other flu viruses kill people every year.
It’s Viruses following their natural migratory annual pathways tha are killing off the sick and elderly as the flu virus normally does.
You can’t avoid being elderly, but you can avoid being sick by carefully avoiding foods loaded with sugars, and chemicals, that are both in non-nutritious food, medications, and prescription drugs, all these sugars and food chemicals burden your immune system.
On top of that in order to be Healthy you need to be sure to get enough adequate amounts of daily Sun, Water, Air, Rest, and Exercise (SWARE).
In addition, your daily Health Regimen requires reading the labels of all food you eat that comes in glass, plastic, or packaged.
in fact many of the best natural food does not come in any package, they are natural fruits, vegetables, seeds, nuts, grains legumes, and more.
Main things to avoid entirely are, processed foods with processed sugars, chemicals, especially petrochemicals, and the fat, lard, and grease that is in animal flesh, and oils used in cooking, especially deep fryers and frying pans.
As you can see, Health requires daily personal effort to avoid and prevent diseases,and the use of medications and prescription drugs.r