LIHU‘E — As announced earlier this week by Mayor Derek Kawakami, the county, in partnership with the state Department of Health Kaua‘i District Health Office, will be distributing about 15,000 at-home COVID-19 test kits later this month.
The second round of free COVID-19 home test kits will be available from March 28 to April 1 at 10 total distributions.
“As our case numbers continue to drop, we thank our entire community for working together to avoid the spread of this disease,” Kawakami said in a news release. “We know that testing remains an important tool in this effort, and we are grateful to all our partners for their help in keeping Kaua‘i healthy and safe.”
The free test kits were bought using federal funding.
Tests will be handed out, with a limit of five tests per individual/household, on a first-come, first-served basis.
“Home test kits are a convenient way to reduce the risk of spreading COVID to others,” said Kaua‘i District Health Officer Dr. Janet Berreman. “If you have symptoms of COVID use a home test immediately; if your self-test is negative remain in isolation and repeat the test one to two days later. If you’ve been exposed to someone with COVID, use the test three to four days after exposure, and test again on the fifth day. You can also use them before planning to gather indoors with others, especially people who are unvaccinated, older, or immunocompromised.”
Monday, March 28: Kekaha Neighborhood Center from 9 a.m. to noon; Waimea Neighborhood Center from 1 to 4 p.m.
Tuesday, March 29: Hanalei Neighborhood Center 9 a.m. to noon; Kilauea Neighborhood Center from 1 to 4 p.m.
Wednesday, March 30: Hanapepe Neighborhood Center from 9 a.m. to noon; Kalaheo Neighborhood Center from 1 to 4 p.m.
Thursday, March 31: Anahola Clubhouse from 9 a.m. to noon; Kapa‘a Neighborhood Center from 1 to 4 p.m.
Friday, April 1: Koloa Neighborhood Center from 9 a.m. to noon; Lihu‘e Neighborhood Center from 1 to 4 p.m.
In addition to the home test kits, the county continue to provide free rapid PCR COVID-19 testing with same-day results.
The Kaua‘i War Memorial Convention Hall in Lihu‘e is open Monday to Friday, from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and is closed weekends and holidays. It will be closed on Friday, March 25, in observation of the Prince Kuhio Day.
The mobile testing van is open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at a different community each day: Wednesdays at Kekaha Neighborhood Center, Thursdays at Kilauea Neighborhood Center, Fridays at Kalaheo Neighborhood Center (closed on March 25 for Prince Kuhio Day), Saturdays at Hanalei Neighborhood Center (open on March 26), and Sundays in Kapa‘a at the Bryan J. Baptiste Sports Complex.
For a full list of testing sites, visit kauai.gov/covidtest.
Additionally, the public is reminded that free test kits from the federal government can be ordered through covidtest.gov and delivered by mail.
