LIHU‘E — Monday, the Hawai‘i State Department of Health Kaua‘i District Health Office announced 24 new cases of COVID-19, all in residents that were all considered community-acquired.
Fifteen of the community-acquired infections are close contacts of previously announced cases or are tied to one of the county’s active clusters. The remaining nine community-acquired cases have no known source of infection, including five whom investigators have been unable to reach after repeated attempts or who have refused to provide information.
Of the 24 new cases, nine are children and 15 are adults.
Monday’s cases bring the number of active cases to 254, with six hospitalized, and 1,893 cumulative cases.
“Here on Kaua‘i, we report our case numbers and fatalities in real-time, as soon as we confirm the information,” Lauren Guest of the KDHO said. “The state DOH reports those numbers a day or two later. We are reporting the same thing, but it may be confusing that the state counts are a little delayed.”
Guest said that a few days ago, the state reported fatalities that the county already announced.
“Our total number of deaths is nine, with the most recent one reported last week,” Guest said. “We will continue reporting case numbers and fatalities as soon as we confirm them.”
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, Kilauea Neighborhood Center on Thursdays, Kalaheo 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 Lihu‘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. Lihu‘e Pharmacy offers PCR mid-turbinate testing. Results are expected to be provided the same day via email.
Almost 660 days and 9 people died? Do the math people. Let the people decide for themselves how to keep themselves safe from this “virus”