Better visitor screening the key
It is hearting to hear that the mayors of all islands are working together to find a long-term solution to protecting the residents from COVID along with helping to revive the economy.
There is a proposal being considered by the mayors that requires visitors who arrive in the islands to come with a negative COVID test taken within 72 hours of arrival. This would be followed by another COVID test done four days after arrival. This approach could help protect the residents of Hawai‘i. However, there are some process issues with this, including the difficulty to get travelers to have the second test. It is clear that with this approach there will be great difficulty with compliance in assuring the visitors to the islands do come back after four days of arrival and take the second test. Who will help insure this?
There has been another proposal that would make sure that visitors are tested a second time. It would eliminate the need to track the visitors down to make sure they were compliant with having a second test. It would test for the virus in a way that would be done in an appropriate timeframe for all that we know about the virus at this point in time. This plan would have the visitor take the COVID test within 84 hours of arrival. This would eliminate the stress of the visitor trying to adhere to having the results in hand or uploaded upon arrival, as many of the trusted partners are having difficulty with getting results to the visitors within the current timeframe.
The second step to insuring a second test would be to test upon arrival at the airport. Those who need to do this would be a “captured audience.” In Alaska, residents are tested for free and visitors are charged for the test at the airport. Follow up would be done by contact tracers. This approach would protect the residents, eliminate a step in the first proposal, and allow visitors to help the economy recover.
As before, now just wear your masks to protect yourself and others.
Carol Bagley, RN, Ph.D., Part-time resident of Kaua‘i and Alaska
Glamping poorly-thought-out idiocy
Pursuant to this “glamping” fiasco, let me say that I’m not too good with computers and all this new-fangled stuff, but I’m pretty good with history and what makes Americans a different breed. That said, when it comes to ANY outside power imposing its will on citizens, that “power” will lose — sure as shooting.
British tried it — picture Washington crossing the Delaware.
Germans tried it — picture Omaha Beach.
Japan tried it — picture Iwo Jima.
Russians tried it — picture the destruction of the Berlin Wall.
Now, a very rich guy is again challenging the will of American citizens, for what purpose: To become yet richer? To become more vilified? To impose his individual will on the multitudes? To prove, despite American history, that HE alone has the POWER to circumvent the WILL of Americans in PRINCEVILLE, HI.?
Well, guess what — the self-worshiping kng will lose. Not just him but every paid public official who supports this will be voted out of office. Not just this poorly-thought-out development idiocy, but every more-grandiose scheme this self-proclaimed emperor may devise in the future for his thousands of verdant, open, scenic land holdings.
So is it really worth the angst forced upon our American spirit to squeeze a tiny bit of profit out of a highly-developed community? I think not.
Bob Chrisman, Princeville
Roadside Guinea grass a danger
I am sure that everyone knows how overgrown our roadsides have gotten. This has created an extremely-dangerous situation to drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists.
There is no room or visibility along the road edges, which forces walkers and bicyclists to have to go on the road and highways. Drivers often do not have clear vision of the road edge, especially around curves. A wild boar running through the guinea grass and across the road may not be seen, and could put a driver (and others) trying to avoid it in extreme danger.
State and county, get to work NOW! Clean these roadways before someone gets killed or seriously injured! Anyone injured by this malicious disregard for public safety could sue. Tourist industry and citizens, please call and complain.
Sincerely;
Sherwood Conant, Kapa‘a
Source: The Garden Island
Be First to Comment