Kauai experienced a total reset these past few months. Hardships to small business owners and property owners alike ensued; however, the Aina was virus-free for 10-weeks, and residents were getting used to the fact that our small community could be impervious to another COVID-19 round. Plenty of new announcements were made this week to shake things up.
New Confirmed Cases on Kauai
Kauai received 12 new confirmed cases. Eight of which are part of a single household, and four are part of a separate household. The four-party household consists of 1 adult and 3 children and are isolation, and their other family members are in quarantine. So far, no one has required hospitalization, thank goodness! Kauai’s District Health Officer, Dr. Janet Berreman described the Department of Health’s (DOH) process in investigating cases and identifying individuals who have been in contact with those cases. “Kauai’s contract tracers start by interviewing confirmed cases and their families. DOH staff then calls or visits the identified contacts and instructs them in how to quarantine – either at home or in a quarantine facility, if necessary. Close contacts are offered testing.”
Mandatory Quarantine
Many non-residents are asking, what is the quarantine like there? During quarantine, contacts do not leave their homes or their place of quarantine, and they do not receive visitors. DOH ensures that their needs are met, for things like groceries and medications. If they have an emergency or need health care, they are given instructions on how to access those services safely. DOH staff check in daily by phone with everyone in quarantine or isolation via an app you download, by phone call, or in-person visit. These checks are to see how people are doing in terms of symptoms, to see what other needs they may have, and to remind them of the restrictions on their activities while in quarantine or isolation. When you arrive at the airport, you are given this Order for Self-Quarantine Form to fill out.
For more information, check out the Governor’s Instructions for Self-Quarantine and Hawaii Tourism Authority’s Latest Alerts
Isolation vs. Quarantine
In both cases, families or individuals are separated from others; either in their homes or in an alternative location. They are directed not to leave their place of isolation or quarantine, and not to receive any visitors.
Quarantine is for those who have been exposed, and therefore are at risk of becoming ill, but are not currently ill. They must not leave their place of quarantine or receive guests during a 14-day period from their date of exposure. Most of those in quarantine are now being tested early in the course of their quarantine — that’s how our new cases have been identified. But a negative test does not ensure that an individual won’t become sick, or turn positive, during the remainder of their quarantine. So, a negative test does not shorten the duration of the quarantine.
Isolation, while it looks the same, is for people we know are sick with COVID-19, and must be kept apart from people who are not infected. The duration of their isolation depends on the course of their illness – it can be shorter or longer than quarantine.
Governor Ige Announces Pre-Testing Program
Wednesday, June 24th, Governor Ige announced a new pre-testing program as an alternative to the 14-Day mandatory quarantine starting August 1, 2020. This means all out-of-state passengers must have received a negative test for COVID-19 at most 72 hours before arriving in Hawaii. Travelers will be required to provide printed or emailed pre-test certification. The quarantine will remain mandatory for those who do not have a pre-flight test. The program’s specificities are being developed. As additional safeguards, it was stated that all incoming passengers will be given temperature checks and that those who do exhibit signs of illness upon arrival will be given a COVID-19 test onsite.
The state’s local economy, which relies heavily on the tourism industry, has also seen a massive loss in revenue and spike in unemployment numbers. “This is the next phase in our efforts to slowly and carefully return life here to the Islands, back to more normal activity,” says Ige. “We recognize there are many concerns in our community, and we believe that this process of pre-testing does allow us to bring travelers back to the Islands while maintaining the health and safety of our community.”
Read the Governor’s full press release here.
Helpful Resources
For real-time updates and helpful resources, check out my Kauai Life with COVID-19 Facebook Group and my Liv Kauai’s COVID-19 Resource Page below.
KAUAI LIFE WITH COVID-19 FACEBOOK GROUP
LIV KAUAI’S COVID-19 RESOURCE PAGE
Kauai Real Estate Market Update
How’s the Kauai Market? I have created the below graphs for residential homes and condos on Kauai for January to May in a 2019 and 2020 comparison.
There’s been much talk about how the virus is going to affect our island and it’s properties. As you’ll see from the graphs above, prices have fluctuated, but not in the sense everyone has been thinking.
Residential home prices have increased by nearly 20% since 2019. Which is considerably high given the nation’s circumstances. However, the proof is in the pudding. We’re not seeing giant leaps of “COVID Special Pricing,” as many predicted. Condos prices have decreased a small amount since last year and there are not as many sales since 2019. The inventory is extremely low for all properties, making the market more inclined to Buyers.
We’re not out of the water, yet. We’ll continue to monitor month-by-month.
Below you’ll find averages for New Listings, Sales, Price Changes, and Withdrawn Listings.
↓ New Listings Jan-May: 2019 avg. = 32 | 2020 avg. = 24
↓ Sales Jan-May: 2019 avg. = 22 | 2020 avg. = 17
↑ Price Changes Jan-May: 2019 avg. = 13 | 2020 avg. = 16
↑ Withdrawn Listings Jan-May: 2019 avg. = 6 | 2020 avg. = 11
If you’re looking for a home here, let me help you monitor the market and find the right one. Contact Me!
Featured Listings: Homes with Views
4146 N. Waiakalua St, Kilauea, HI | 3bed/3.5 bath | 2.5 acres | Pila’a Beach Access | MLS 639052
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Kauai Market Reports
Below are real-time market reports complete with a Buyer or Seller Advantage, Median List Price, Market Profile, Market Segment, and so much more for each respective city.
Aloha For Now
Be safe, stay healthy, and keep dreaming of Kauai.
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