September is National Preparedness Month, and not just for natural disasters.
Department of Health Director Libby Char says people should prepare for the possibilities of getting COVID-19 as they would for a hurricane. Here's how:
- Is there a bedroom or isolated space where you can be by yourself, away from other members of the household? If not, consider having other household members stay with at a friend's or family's house.
- Have food, water, and medication ready.
- Pets can contract the virus. Have someone else take care of your pets.
- Avoid contact with your children. Make sure you coordinate ahead of time to have childcare.
"Just to have something planned ahead of time, so if and when that happens, you’re ready to roll and not scrambling at the last minute," explains Char.
There are currently almost 9,000 active cases of COVID-19 in Hawaiʻi.
The seven-day average is 566 new cases every day, and the test positivity rate is 6.7%.
About 65% of the total population of Hawaiʻi is fully vaccinated.
