State Epidemiologist Dr. Sarah Kemble has a few messages for the community: If you are sick and diagnosed with COVID-19 you need to isolate; consider keeping your kids masked at school; and get a second booster shot, if you’re eligible, or ensure you are fully vaccinated.
“What we’re seeing is that getting the second booster shot has the biggest impact in terms of severe outcomes for older age groups, 50 years and up, or 12 years old and up who may have a weaker immune system,” she said. “With the newest variant, we’re seeing higher rates of re-infection and while the COVID-19 vaccines may not protect you against COVID-19 they do protect you from outcomes like ending up in the ICU or dying. So getting your booster shot — even if you’ve already had COVID-19 — is beneficial.”
Cases are currently on the rise on the Big Island and across Hawaii, with the current dominate strain BA-5 accounting for 40% of cases, Kemble said, noting she expect the percentage to be even higher next week.
Hawaii Island reported 542 new COVID-19 cases during the seven-day period ending on Wednesday with an average of 72 new cases per day and a positivity rate of 13.5%. Statewide there were 4,075 cases reported, resulting in a 15.7% positivity rate. To date there have been 36,259 cases on Hawaii Island and 325,944 statewide.
And those figures are likely much lower than the actual number of cases circulating in the community due to the use of home testing for COVID-19. State Department of Health Director Libby Char has stated numbers are likely five to seven times higher than those being reported.
“What we see in terms of case counts reported to us in only part of the whole picture. We know case counts continue to be high so I do think we need to keep on guard. But at the same time, I do feel the state is in a strong position: we’re highly vaccinated; we’ve had really good uptake for primary series and first boosters, ” Kemble said during the Friday appearance on the Honolulu Star-Advertiser’s livestream series “Spotlight Hawaii.” “We’ve seen during the most recent surge that even though cases did go sky high, we saw less of the impacts that we saw during Delta, which were really quite dire.”
Though impacts may be less now, members of the community continue to succumb to the virus. Last week, the state reported 23 deaths, which Kemble said all occurred within the past month. Hawaii Island reported no deaths in the seven-day period ending Wednesday.
“Sadly, we do continue to see deaths from COVID-19 and I think it reflects the very high burden of infection that is continuing to pass through our communities. Even though many people have mild to moderate illness, we still, especially in our kupuna, see more severe cases and even death,” Kemble said.
Over 90% of the deaths 1,571 deaths across the state since the onset of the pandemic in early 2020 have been among people over age 50. Data is not available on vaccination and/or booster status, Kemble said.
“And yet less than 30% of people over 50 have had there second booster and they are eligible,” she said. “I think one of the key messages is that you should be getting up to date on vaccine. Check your eligibility: If you’re over 50 get your second booster now.”
On Hawaii Island, more than 375,124 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine administered to the island’s population estimated at over 199,000. As of Wednesday, 69% of the island’s population had completed the two-shot initial series with an additional 39% having received one booster. About 10% of the island’s residents have received a second booster shot.
Statewide, 77% of the population has received the initial two-shot series with 44.2% having received a first booster and 10.6% a second booster.
And if you get symptoms of COVID-19 — or test positive — isolate and seek therapeutics such as Paxlovid via a doctor. Kemble added that many people may not realize they qualify for such treatments, and advised residents to visit hawaiicovid19.com for more information.
“As soon as you realize you are positive for COVID the important thing is to get treatment quickly — it’s most effective to get it within five days of onset.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19 isolate for at least five days. Isolation can end after five days — if a person is fever-free for 24 hours.
The same advise goes for school-age children, who will be returning to public schools on Monday with no mask mandate. Kemble noted that her children will be wearing masks and recommends other children do as well.
“It’s good to wear a mask if you want your child to not come home with COVID. My kids will wear a mask this year. It may be a strong consideration to have your child masking up. Be up to date on their vaccines. We have a lot of tools at our disposal now,” she said. “The pandemic is not over — there’s a few things to do to maximize protection. Get boosted, check out the state therapeutics website, and stay home if you are sick. This is a new standard for all of us.”
Everyone 6 months of age and older is now eligible to get a COVID-19 vaccination.
Tess, a parent and beachgoer, said her kids will likely mask up, though she isn’t as fearful because they are vaccinated.
“When the kids had mask mandates at school they didn’t get any colds or anything, but after they removed the mandate they started getting sick in the span of two months. Even though they’re vaccinated they got the COVID. They were so mad. It’s not fun. If mask helps, they’ll probably wear one,” she said.
However, not all parents are comfortable with their kids being vaccinated.
Tabitha Pullinattu, who is raising young children in Kailua-Kona, has opted not to vaccinate the youngsters though she herself is.
“My boys and I have already had COVID in the spring,” she said. “I am vaccinated and boostered but they are not. My 6 year old son and I are so excited for him to return to his second year at a new school in town — Kokua Academy. They required masks to be worn last year in the indoor spaces but they spend at least half the day outside learning anyhow. I wish that all children could learn outside- but for reasons unrelated to coronavirus.”