With the number of coronavirus cases continuing to rise, the County of Hawaii will provide community testing at two locations this week.
Cases have been attributed to travel, social gatherings and community spread, according to a community alert sent earlier this week.
“The increase in cases demonstrates the importance of following the preventive policies of face coverings, physical distancing and limiting gathering sizes to help reduce the spread of the virus,” the Department of Health stated in the alert.
Free testing will be offered at Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium in Hilo today with no appointment necessary.
Both locations will be open from 3-6 p.m., with the objective of identifying positive cases as early as possible and mitigating any spread of the virus.
Department of Health spokesman Brooks Baehr told The Hawaii Tribune that the unvaccinated people, along with children, were most at risk of being infected.
“We are seeing widespread community transmission among unvaccinated people,” he said. “Unvaccinated residents are being infected while traveling. Unvaccinated people are being infected while not wearing masks indoors. Children who are not eligible to be vaccinated are being infected by unvaccinated adults.”
Big Island Now reports that 22 new cases of COVID-19 were identified on the Big Island, bringing the total cases to 3,405.
Cyrus Johnasen, a spokesman for Mayor Mitch Roth, told the newspaper the increase was likely due to holiday gathering, along with the graduation season.
“All it takes is one person to impact their entire household and eventually the community,” he said. “We know folks want to celebrate, and that’s more than alright. We just have to do it with the best of our loved ones in mind.”
The Department of Health reported 132 COVID-19 cases for Monday, with 81 coronavirus cases on Oahu, four on Kauai, eight on Maui, and nine diagnosed out of state, according to KHON.
For more information on clinics and pharmacies offering vaccination, those interested can visit the County of Hawaii’s website.
The state’s death toll stands at 523 and a 59.3% rate of vaccinated residents.