Study: Residents shirking rules

LIHU‘E — Kaua‘i now has 13 active cases of COVID-19 on the island, the County of Kaua‘i said Friday. Total cumulative cases to date are now 34 on the island.

All of the active cases are in isolation, and all other household members and identified close contacts of the active cases are in quarantine.

The state Department of Health is continuing its contact-tracing investigation. Anyone who is identified as a close contact of a positive case will be notified directly by the DOH and offered a test, according to a COK Friday announcement.

The number of confirmed cases climbed statewide on Friday, with 14 new individuals testing positive on O‘ahu.

The DOH announced Friday that they’re seeing an “alarming decrease among residents” in following pandemic rules, claiming an increasing number of Hawai‘i residents “no longer see COVID-19 as much of a threat as they did in the earlier stages of the pandemic.”

According to a survey commissioned by the DOH, the number of people who view the virus as a “very serious” health concern has fallen from 73% to 54% in less than two months. The initial survey was conducted from April 17 to 23, and the follow-up survey was conducted from May 28 to June 7.

More alarming, the entity says, is the effect of that attitude change on prevention behaviors. While those who say they are social distancing “all of the time” has remained steady at 42%, the follow-up survey shows that fewer residents are following current recommendations “most of the time” or “part of the time.”

“It’s critically important for everyone to take COVID-19 seriously,” said Dr. Bruce Anderson, DOH director.

”We’ve seen a recent increase in cases. We cannot interpret the reopening of businesses, restaurants, parks and other places as a license to let our guards down. Indeed, it is more important now than ever to adhere to prevention measures we know work,” he said.

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Jessica Else, editor-in-chief, can be reached at 245-0457 or jelse@thegardenisland.com.