7 New COVID-19 Cases Reported on Garden Isle

The Hawai‘i State Department of Health Kaua‘i District Health Office reported seven new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, July 14.

Today’s cases are all residents – three adults and four children. The source of infection for all seven cases is considered community-acquired. All seven are close contacts of previously announced cases. All active cases are in isolation, and close contacts are being identified, offered testing, and directed to quarantine. Investigations are ongoing.

“As we see a significant spike in cases islandwide, we ask our community to cooperate with our contact tracers who are investigating COVID-19 cases,” said Dr. Janet Berreman, Kaua‘i District Health Officer. “Their work helps to alleviate the spread of this disease on our island. Please – if you are sick, isolate yourself immediately and arrange to be tested for COVID-19.”

The DOH variant report released confirms that we see a rise in cases caused by the Delta variant both statewide and on Kaua‘i.

“The variant spreads rapidly, and our best protection is vaccination — the time to be vaccinated is now,” Berreman added. “We want to make sure that everyone is getting vaccinated – especially young people. This variant also impacts young people in a way that previous variants have not. Children too young to be vaccinated can be infected by unvaccinated family members. The best way to protect children from falling ill is by ensuring that everyone in the household who is 12 or older is fully vaccinated.”

Today’s cases bring the number of active cases to 56, with two hospitalized, and 498 cumulative cases. Kaua‘i’s cumulative case count includes 454 confirmed locally, three probable, and 41 positive cases diagnosed elsewhere, as they received their pre-travel test results after arriving on island.

If you have symptoms or are feeling sick, you should isolate yourself immediately, stay away from household members, and not go out – including to work or school – unless you are seeking testing or getting health care. Those who have been vaccinated should still be tested if they believe they may have been exposed or if they feel sick.

Residents aged 18 and older are eligible for any vaccine available at pharmacy, hospital, and clinic locations. The Pfizer vaccine has been authorized for use in those 12 years of age and older, and are available at hospitals and pharmacies islandwide.

Vaccination is free and widely available on the island, including on weekends and evenings and pop-up vaccination opportunities at community sites. Many vaccination sites accept walk-ins. For details, visit www.kauai.gov/vaccine. Those who plan to travel can protect themselves and their families by being fully vaccinated before traveling.

Free testing is available at the Convention Hall, weekdays, from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on a first-come, first-served basis. Testing is also available through your primary care physician, a hospital, or an urgent care clinic. Contact those providers directly for more information.

For more details, visit https://www.kauai.gov/covidtest. For more information on the county’s COVID-19 response, visit www.kauai.gov/COVID-19.