Kaua‘i Committed to In-Person Learning Despite Surge

Kaua‘i is committed to in-person learning despite the surge in COVID-19 cases on the island.

Department of Education Kaua‘i Superintendent Paul Zina said Tuesday, Jan. 18 during the county’s COVID-19 informational briefing that the district is sticking with plans it announced last week to continue to have students learn in the classroom despite record numbers of new cases.

“The goal is to keep as many students in the classroom as many days as possible,” Zina said.

The policy implemented last week calls for virtual learning to be implemented only when staffing shortages call for it on a case-by-case, class-by-class basis.

“Our team is working to keep students learning in person as much as possible,” he said, adding that it is the more beneficial method to retain information rather than virtually.

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The Hawai‘i State Department of Health Kaua‘i District Health Office announced 283 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday. Today’s cases bring the number of active cases to 771, with six hospitalized, and 7,691 cumulative cases.

The daily average now stands at 230 cases over the last seven days.

“The highest it’s ever been,” Mayor Derek Kawakami said.

Due to the high volume of cases, the Department of Health case investigators will generally contact you several days after you receive a positive test. Officials reminded people that with the shortened isolation period, in some instances, case investigators will not be able to reach them before the end of their isolation period, so it is important they follow guidelines on their own volition.

People who receive a positive result, you isolate at home and notify close contacts and workplace or school, they advised. They should not wait to hear from a case investigator.

Isolation and quarantine guidance are available at the DOH website.

Free testing is also available islandwide. For a full list of testing sites and more details, visit www.kauai.gov/covidtest. Please note that the Kaua‘i War Memorial Convention Hall testing center is limited to 500 tests per day, and the free mobile testing van is limited to 100 tests per day.