Hawai‘i County Mayor Tests Positive for COVID-19

Hawai‘i County Mayor Mitch Roth tested positive for COVID-19 over the Christmas weekend, his office said in a press release Monday, Dec. 27. Roth was asymptomatic when he was tested and is currently experiencing mild symptoms related to the virus.

The press release said the reason for testing was due to a close contact in his immediate household. Roth is fully vaccinated and received his booster earlier this month. His household is also fully vaccinated. Roth was set to be out on vacation this week and will remain home to quarantine for 10 days, per county, state, and federal rules.

“With the rise in cases happening across our state and on our island, we all need to do what we can to ensure that we can protect ourselves and those around us,” Roth said in the release. “Getting vaccinated and, most importantly, getting boosted can minimize the chance of severe illness and keep us out of the hospitals. I’m only experiencing minor symptoms because of the vaccines, and I would like to encourage all of you who haven’t gotten yours yet to please go ahead and do so. The virus is spreading at a rampant rate and will take a toll on our medical resources if we don’t all do our part. The power is really in our hands, and we have to take this seriously.”

The County of Hawaiʻi would like to remind residents to stay home if they’re feeling ill, mask up, distance
when possible, and gather outdoors this New Year. All residents who feel sick or are in close contact with a known positive should get tested. County-approved testing vendors can be found on the Civil Defense webpage at hawaiicounty.gov/testing. Vaccine and booster information can also be found on the Civil Defense webpage at hawaiicounty.gov/vaccination.