Department of Health investigators have identified seven additional positive cases on Kauai who are household members with the previous case.
The new cases were already placed in quarantine when they were tested yesterday. Kauai District Health Office is continuing their contact tracing of the household cluster this weekend and identification of additional contacts and testing is ongoing.
Kauai had no cases for 10 weeks, and this raises the cumulative number of COVID-19 cases on the island to 29. There are six new cases on Oahu and one on Maui for a total of 14 new cases confirmed in the past 24 hours, and a statewide case total of 803.
“We have investigated every case with positive test results and identified several household clusters over the last few days,” said Health Director Dr. Bruce Anderson. “The identification of these clusters and subsequent investigations resulted in the isolation and quarantine of cases and close contacts. These clusters reinforce the importance of maintaining safe practices, especially wearing masks and physically distancing when meeting with people outside your immediate ohana.”
“One of the new cases reported on Oahu was associated with a previously confirmed case, where both people had attended a house party.”
“It’s important to maintain physical distancing from those who don’t live in your household, but as this and other clusters demonstrate, coronavirus can be spread among people in the same household,” said state epidemiologist Dr. Sarah Park. “We strongly urge people to take care and physically distance, no matter the setting…indoors or out, or at least wear a mask when around others outside your household.”
Health experts believe much of the spike in COVID-19 cases reported over the past few days is due to Hawaii residents relaxing safe practices, such as physical distancing, wearing of face masks and frequent hand washing.
“All of the people in the household cluster on Kauai were isolated or quarantined promptly,” said Dr. Janet Berreman, Kauai District Health Officer. “The decision to isolate or quarantine at home or in a facility is made jointly with the cases and contacts and the Department of Health. The option chosen is the one that works best for all. Household contacts were tested yesterday, and their results reported today. Testing of additional contacts will begin this weekend.”