LIHU‘E — The state Department of Health Kaua‘i District Health Office announced 37 new cases of COVID-19 Friday.
Friday’s cases are all residents — seven are children and 30 are adults. All 37 cases are considered community-acquired. Twenty-seven of the community-acquired infections are close contacts of previously announced cases or are tied to an active cluster.
The remaining 10 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.
Active cases are directed to isolate, and close contacts are being identified, offered testing and directed to quarantine. Investigations are ongoing.
“Unvaccinated residents continue to bear the greatest burden of COVID disease, hospitalizations and deaths,” said Dr. Janet Berreman, district health officer.
“Vaccines are free, safe, effective, and widely available on Kaua‘i. If you are not already vaccinated, please consider getting your first dose as soon as possible. When each of us is protected, our community is protected.”
Friday’s cases bring the number of active cases to 279, with three hospitalized, and 2,042 cumulative cases.
Links to home-isolation/quarantine guidelines from DOH:
• hawaiicovid19.com/testing-isolation-quarantine/;
• hawaiicovid19.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Summary-Guidance-for-COVID-19-Cases-and-Contacts.pdf;
• https://health.hawaii.gov/coronavirusdisease2019/files/2020/04/What-To-Do-If-You-Have-Been-Tested-For-COVID19_040120.pdf
Vaccines and rapid-response tests are offered across the island, most are free of charge and are available for walk-ins though appointments may be made.
For more testing details, visit kauai.gov/covidtest.
For more information on the county’s COVID-19 response, visit kauai.gov/COVID-19.
