A Report on the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Health and Social Welfare in the County of Kaua'i, Hawai'i

The Hawai'i Emergency Management Agency Community Care Outreach Unit (CCO) conducted a survey to gauge the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on the health and social welfare of individuals and their families across the state of Hawai'i. A mixed-methods framework was utilized for survey distribution. This article presents a descriptive analysis of the data to provide a basic overview of the impact of COVID-19 in Kaua'i County (KC), as assessed in August/September 2020. A total of 420 participants in KC responded to the statewide survey. Approximately one-third reported that they or their family members experienced reduced work hours or lost their job because of COVID-19. Many reported difficulties paying for many types of living essentials and expected these difficulties to increase in the near future. Prevalent challenges for the fall school semester included access to funds for school supplies and face-coverings. About one-third reported feeling nervous more than half the time or nearly every day in the past 2 weeks, and one-fourth reported feeling worried more than half the time or nearly every day in the past 2 weeks. The majority perceived the severity of COVID-19 to be moderate/very high and most had at least a moderate level of knowledge about risks for contracting severe COVID-19. Less than half said they would know how to provide care for someone in their family with COVID-19. Half of the respondents in KC reported maintaining social distancing usually/all of the time, the majority reported wearing a face-covering usually/always when needed. The results provide a baseline for understanding the impact, needs, and threats to the health and social welfare of households and their families in KC as a result of COVID-19. Local stakeholders can utilize this information for developing priorities, strategies, and programs to address the pandemic where needed and also to assess progress in areas of need.