LIHU‘E — Saturday, the state Department of Health Kaua‘i District Health Office reported nine new cases of COVID-19 on Kaua‘i, all residents, one child and eight adults.
All nine cases are considered community-acquired.
Five of the community-acquired infections are close contacts of a previously announced case or tied to an active cluster.
The remaining four community-acquired cases have no known source of infection, including one whom investigators have been unable to reach after repeated attempts or who has refused to provide information.
Saturday’s cases bring the number of active cases to 56, with one hospitalized, and 2,540 cumulative cases.
Late last week, the state reached a milestone, announcing that 70% of Hawai‘i residents have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
“While we are encouraged that 70% of Hawai‘i residents have made the choice to protect themselves and our community through vaccination, there is more work to do,” said DOH Director Dr. Elizabeth Char in a release.
“Even with this rate of protection, our seven-day average case count is 130 new cases per day. We encourage all eligible Hawai‘i residents to become part of the solution and get vaccinated,” she said.
Nearly 102,000 eligible Hawai‘i residents have not started vaccination, and approximately 117,000 Hawai‘i residents have initiated but not completed vaccination.
Around 207,492 children under the age of 11 are not yet eligible for vaccination.
Free testing is available at the Kaua‘i War Memorial Convention Hall in Lihu‘e on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
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 Mayor Bryan J. Baptiste Sports Complex in Kapa‘a on Sundays.
Free drive-thru testing is also available daily at Lihu‘e Pharmacy Group, Kolopa Street near the Puhi Safeway, 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.
Immunizations are free, safe and effective, and offered at various locations across the island, according to the DOH.
Many vaccination sites accept walk-ins. 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 is available at Wilcox Medical Center, Lihu‘e Longs, Puhi Safeway, Kaiser Permanente Lihu‘e Clinic and Ho‘ola Lahui Hawai‘i clinics in Waimea and Kapa‘a.
The vaccine van can be requested to come to a business, event or home by filling out the survey at surveymonkey.com/r/CBQCWY7 or calling the Kaua‘i District Health Office at 808-241-3495.
The pop-up clinic and hospital van are open to everyone 12 and older. For details on the vaccination sites, visit kauai.gov/vaccine.
