LIHU‘E — The county is working with private-sector partners on a voluntary second-test campaign after Gov. David Ige denied its formal request for the program.
The “Take 3, then test, that’s our request” program asks incoming travelers to Kaua‘i to first take a pre-test within three days before flying in and then take a voluntary test three days after arrival.
Mayor Derek Kawakami, in his Friday COVID-19 update, said the county is working with the Kaua‘i Visitors Bureau and private-industry partners to create an incentive program and messaging campaign.
The county already has a reserve of 15,000 rapid, same-day, COVID-19 tests purchased using $1 million of federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funds which, a county spokesperson said, would be used for the post-arrival program.
“Our goal would be to offer free testing for returning residents who recently traveled out of state,” the county said.
On Thursday, the county proposed a four-tiered system outlining when businesses and activities can be operational based on coronavirus case counts, including a point at which Kaua‘i would opt out of the state’s pre-travel test program that kicks off Thursday, Oct. 15 for trans-Pacific travelers.
The lax Tier 4 is defined by less than two daily active cases, and allows nearly all businesses and activities with minimal restrictions. Tier 3 includes tighter gathering restrictions when the county hits a one-week average of a daily two to four cases. At Tier 2, or a week-long average of a daily county of five to eight cases, the county opts out of the state’s pre-travel testing program. Tier 1 will add additional restrictions when daily cases exceed eight.
“We developed thresholds based on the information we have at our disposal now,” state Department of Health Kaua‘i District Health Officer Dr. Janet Berreman said Friday. “That includes our experience over the last six months in Hawai‘i, how other communities have responded and their results, our island’s small population, and on our knowledge of our public-health and health-care resources here on Kaua‘i. We do have limited public-health and hospital capacity, and we must do everything we can to ensure we do not exceed that capacity.”
Berreman explained that if there are eight new cases per day in a month, using state hospitalization data, that would result in 24 hospitalizations that month, which is “manageable” on Kaua‘i.
“Our best information from our health-care partners is that this would meet but not exceed our hospital, intensive-care and ventilator capacity,” Berreman said. “So we feel comfortable that this level keeps us within our local health-care capacity. More than this would push us into dangerous territory. Less would be more manageable.”
Berreman went on to say that the proposal uses “not precise calculations, but educated decisions.”
“This gives us a plan to which we can refer, which we can implement, and which we can adapt if that becomes necessary,” she said. “It reflects the best thinking of all involved, but we also recognize that conditions are evolving. We will continue to assess and adjust our response as we move through the coming weeks and months — as we have since the early days of the pandemic.”
The Kaua‘i County Council Friday issued a letter to Ige asking the state to reconsider the two-test plan, citing public-health officials who have said a single test will miss “at least 30% of travelers infected with COVID-19.”
“The Council sees the importance of administering a two-test plan for incoming travelers to keep COVID-19 case counts low and minimize the chances for another economic shut down,” the letter said.
This story was updated at 8:38 a.m. Saturday to provide more clarity on the tier system and hospitalization numbers.
Removing the second test requirement is poor leadership. Whereas now the hospitals are ok, these plans are actually designed to increase the number of cases and hospitalizations. It’s like someone who is trying to justify buying a new truck: if everything works perfectly you’ll be able to pay for it, but the chances that something unforeseen happens and it breaks the bank are high. You’re placing the entire recovery on the back of our tiny healthcare community. Have you ever seen this plan work? No. And now we’ll get to see the pain up close
A voluntary 2nd test is a ridiculous solution.
We need the 2 test plan and the 2nd test should be 6 days from arrival according to medical authorities. I’m sorry that this means the traveler must be in quarantine till the 2nd test confirms a negative result, but we have an island full of residents who do not want to resort to a full lockdown again, if cases spike.
Do we have to quarantine? The people who travel have to quarantine? Most people can’t afford spending their hard-earned money waiting to go on vacation in a hotel room. Answer that how does that work? We would volunteer if we knew the answer to this.
A voluntary second test is maybe a good idea. Especially if it’s free for returning residents.
But would tourists want to pay for a second test?
Would they decide not to visit if they had to pay close to $300 for the first test and then another $300 for a second test?
Our mayor basically is saying f… the governor we will do what we want to do. We have a mayor who through his family they are filthy rich and is showing us he can’t realize with the continuing red tape he brings to the table what he is creating for those who have to work their akoles off to save anything and are finding themselves on the blink of massive disaster economically. His constant push shows us that he is not worried of what takes place because they have plenty of money to ride the whole adventure out.
What’s Akole? Lol, here we go, another transplant trying to pretend they’re local. Go back to the mainland if you don’t like Kauai’s rules.
Offer them a restaurant gift card paid with Federal corona virus funds to take the second test; they’ll jump on that, and it will drive business to the local restaurants that they desperately need.
What for on the second test? This is added spending to administer the COVID-19 TEST. Not needed because even if they were to test positive after the first test, the chances of a local resident being tested positive because of them, is totally slim and ridiculous. They face mask rule and six feet apart rule safe guards all locals. I don’t see how the second test will help out any situation, locally.
Not needed is for Kaua’i to get technical on the approach for checking COVID-19 NEW cases. If a passenger arrives testing negative, then on the vacation turns up positive, he will not know this. Testing him again will do no good for the situation. Sending him back to get further testing on their part where he lives becomes more of the issue. They can do that there. And the test will come back positive. Then the situation is changed. But it does no good for Kaua’i to check it again. Find some way to spend this federal money.
Just curious I added the “other” above. Don’t omit it.
I have not seen a plan yet that helps the local businesses.
As a UofH graduate, class of ’68 and a mainland resident I usually visit Maui and Kauai at least twice a year for 3-4 weeks each visit. My wife of 47 years died in 2017 and her ashes are buried at sea off the coast of Maui. I am totally onboard for what ever is necessary to keep those that live on the Islands as safe as possible while still doing my part to help the local economy. If two tests are required and it adds to the total cost of my visit then so be it. However, I won’t visit if I have to quarantine for 14 days. That’s no disrespect to the rules but it just wouldn’t be the same if I can’t enjoy the beauty of Hawaii. I of course will wear a mask and social distance. Stay safe and healthy and I will see you as I can.
RESPECT
I respect and appreciate their efforts to date and the difficult position the Mayor and Dr. Berreman are in.
But there is simply no science that supports their approach.
It is a half step, and half steps have doomed all others who have taken such steps, even far stronger ones. Alaska with twice the tests per capita, a 2nd test, and a lax quarantine, has now given up to widespread community spread. Tahiti, with a 2nd test after day 4, has also given up, going from “covid free” to 1500 cases in the last month and a concession that they now expect 1/3rd of their population to contract the virus.
I’m sorry for these strong words, but Mayor Kawakami’s tier system is not leadership – it is a concession. We need to open up, but allowing 56 cases in a single week before enacting a quarantine will not pass the straight face test with the vast majority of medical professionals.
Four cases in New Zealand, picked up in surveillance testing that we don’t really do, found about 75 in their community, that grew to almost 200 before they contained it with a lockdown within 24 hours of the first 4 and over 200,000 tests.
This is a defining moment for us all, and our Mayor. Either he will choose to lead, as he has been, or he will concede. Usually there is some middle ground. With the pandemic, there simply isn’t.
The science is clear, a 2nd test on day 7 to exit quarantine has a chance of working, of getting us open, and keeping us open. That would be true leadership.
It can’t be said enough.
Choices to choose from.
Economic Survival or Survival for High Risk Patients.
Flu for the Healthy is NO RISK, Flu for the High Risk can be Death.
Healthy have None or Mild Symptoms.
Who are the at High Risk? Predominantly those who are elderly with End of Life Pre-Existing Conditions (diseases), and taking Toxic and Lethal End of Life Prescription Drugs for those diseases/
We also know that, and we cannot ignore, that as many as 98% of the people who get the Covid19 virus have either NO Symptoms, or Mild Symptoms.
Recently we know that President Trump and Mrs. Trump and some White House officials got the virus with either No Symptoms or Mild Symptoms, and only President Trump was hospitalized for a few days, not out of necessity but as a precaution since he is the President.
40% of us are unemployed or our businesses closed, ad we want the economy of Hawaii to open, we also want safety for all, and so the following is the most beneficial we’ve heard so far to protect the few who may die, and bring back a safe economy so people can feed their families.
It seems 60% who are employed or living on fixed income without need of working are for super virus safety and forget the ongoing worsening economic disaster. Out of (media) Fear they want to Keep visitors away from Hawaii. Yet many of them have End of Life Pre-Existing Disease Conditions taking End of Life Toxic and Lethal Prescription Drugs.
Up to 80% of Americans take daily prescription drugs,4.4 Billion prescriptions a year.
Over $4 Trillion drug prescriptions issued every year.
The vast majority of us wear masks, distance 6’, and wash their hands frequently, but not as well as necessary, since positive cases keep increasing, so we know those measures do not work. And with the microscopic virus smaller than a dust particle with little umbrellas sticking out all ove its surface, it’s no wonder with the Tradewinds or Kona winds that the virus can spread island wide on our winds, even virus escaping the mask join the Covid19 Air Force.
The CDC states
Adults with the following Pre-Existing Conditions are at increased risk of severe illness (yet 98% do not get severe symptoms) from the virus that causes COVID-19:
1. Cancer
2. Heart, Stroke, and Coronary artery diseases.
3. Lung diseases.
4. Kidney diseases.
5. Immune System weakened.
6. Obesity
7. Diabetes Type I and II
8. Smoking
9. Asthma
10. High Blood Pressure.
11. Liver Diseases
12. Alzheimers, Dementia
Most of these are caused by processed Non-Nutrient foods containing additives like chemicals and petrochemicals, artificial colors, flavors, aromas, synthetic vitamins, preservatives, hormones, Agricultural chemicals, and sugars are in almost every bite of food eaten, animal fat/lard; and prescription drugs themselves are the direct cause of some of the organ diseases listed above.
Emphasis must be plaid on Fast/Junk and sugar foods, and one cannot expect to be healthy eating burgers, fries, and sodas, etc.
Not only do these foods feed disease but their ingredients burden the body’s immune system.
Remember immune systems have been around for 550 Million years defending animal and recently human bodies from disease, if the body does not need or is threatened by what you eat, that so-called for you are eating must be eliminated or stored out of the way in your arteries and fat zones, etc.
Most foods and all petrochemicals have only been around for less than 100 years and so the human body has not yet adapted to, and may never be able to the junk people eat, and the corporations manufacture knowing full well that the chemicals you eat will lead to disease and you will be given more chemicals in your prescription drugs. And when you are dead they will enbalm you, that is try to preserve you with more chemicals, even though they have been trying to kill you with chemicals your entire life.
What a vicious circle: End Of Life Chemicals in your food, in your over the counter medications, in your prescription drugs, and in your dead stinking body.
So let’s get down to some hard facts and figures.
If 98% of the people (they’re Healthy) have No Symptoms or only mild symptoms, well we do not need to protect them. What? You never had the flu before?
And out of the people who die “With” covid19 virus, 94% have pre-existing End of Life disease conditions, and are taking End of Life Prescription Drugs. And in fact of nor more saying they died from Covid19 virus, they now call it that they died with a Covid19 RELATED condition. And therefore not the Covid19 cause at all.
Of the 6% who died directly from the Covid19, in Hawaii, out of the current deaths only related to, but not directly caused by Covid19, only 12 of the 190 deaths are directly attributed to the Covid19 virus.
That means that in the last 7 months since March 2020, less than only 2 people (1.7 actually) have died per month from Covid19 virus, out of 1,500,000 residents in Hawaii.
Repeat: 2 per month out of 1 1/2 million people.
More people die per month from each of the following: cigarettes, alcohol, drugs, auto/pedestrian accidents, cancer, heart, stroke, diabetes, prescription drugs, and most of the list above.
And we are destroying families, education, businesses, loss of homes, rentals, mortgages, friendships, and mist pit yp with the stress of fear from Media Hype and inaccurate and misleading statistics.
While foods, chemicals, medications and prescription drugs cause disease, the people making and selling the above are perpetuating the disease process, by prescribing more chemicals and petrochemicals to the sick, including more drugs for the side effects of the prescription drugs they are selling.
An example of Disease Care:
Doctor, “Mr. X, you have high blood pressure , you’ll need to take this prescription drug.”
Patient Mr. X, “Doctor, For how long do I take it?
Doctor, “For the rest of your life !”
Health Care:
Mr. X, “But doctor, I don’t want to take drugs, I want to be well and Healthy, and not be on drugs and I do not want to get the drug side effect diseases that require more prescription drugs. So how do I get wet and healthy?”
Doctor, “We aren’t trained in that !”
Mr. X, “I guess I’ll have to find a Health Coach, my obese friend did and dropped 50 pounds and his blood pressure is back to normal and he feels terrific.”
So what is your choice? Get Well and Healthy, get the flu, who cares, it’s only No Symptoms or Mild.
Forget having Fear, besides the Vaccine is a manmade laboratory disease, that does not provide immunity to the bio identical Covd19 virus.
The bad news is that if you test Negative, you have no antibodies, and no immunity, and are Red Hot Ripe to get the virus and over the next 14 or so days you are contagious to spread the virus to others.
If you are lucky enough to test Positive, if you get the virus at least 14 days before being tested, you now have millions of still active antibodies, all the bad or Covid19 virus in your body have been deactivated, are being excreted, and you now have immunity to any new Covid19 virus entering your body, they’ll be immediately attacked by your immune system.
That is called immunity possibly for a lifetime, like the measles, mumps, and chicken pox.
Stay Healthy, stay away from drugs of any kind, practice Health proactively every day. Eat only fresh live natural un-processed food. Eat no added sugar or chemicals.
Practice the SWARE acronym every day:
SWARE. Sun, Water, Air, Rest, Exercise.
Be sure your nervous system is at optimal function.
Health = Motion;
Proof = All Dead Things Don’t Move.
Motion: Safe sports, yoga, massage, tai chi, and so many more, they’ll keep you Healthy and allow your immune system to be not burdened, so that you easily deactivate bad viruses and bacteria that enters your body.
OK, so what is fair to all?
1. If we are now stifling our civil rights on the many, restrict travel, business closures, masks, etc., curfews, many more, then, we should have the social right of denial for the sick and elderly and the obese youth or elderly.
2. Search out those people, ask or force them to come to: Health Education classes at convenient hours and locations, or by Zoom or Video, and for the obese even isolate them and feed them only live nutritious foods. Rid OBESITY like a virus, or the mongoose.
3. Governor and Mayor Proclamations to Fast Food and Junk food restaurants and stores (ouch) let them serve only live natural food, NO fat food, grease, sugar, soda, fries; or close your doors. Junk and fast food feeds disease. Why should heathy people pay with unemployment and business closures to allow the cause of disease to prevail. Fat and obese people need healthy food education. Isn’y it about time silly cigarettes and tobacco are outlawed.
It’s time to turn over a new leaf, Fan Shen. Allow only quality food on island. Rid obesity, those people need help or will die young, Covid or not!
Sugar Plantations are gone, time to restrict all processed sugar from Hawaii.
If you can’t eat food without added sugars… (there are over 60 manufactured added sugars, why, because processed sugars and chemicals are cheaper to put in the canned, packaged, bottled food, than putting in real food. Corporations save money denying you real food)…you need to taste how fabulous food from God (not Factory, chemicals, or sugar), tastes, every food a different flavor, as natural spices are different.
Think fruits, veggie, grains, legume, seed, nuts, made into thousands and thousands of delicious recipes worldwide.
Please read this declaration (https://gbdeclaration.org) made by highly educated epidemiologists from Harvard, Stanford, and Oxford Universities who understand what is going on and how to best move forward, not just in the USA, but across the globe. Daily cases only matter in the context of the age group of the infected….generally speaking “cases” are not bad! Elderly and the immunocompromised should stay home, otherwise it is best for everyone to move forward with living. In fact, by not doing so there will be many unwanted, long term side effects, like increased mental health issues, etc. Our governor, mayor, and Dr. Berreman really should spend the time! These people making the decisions for us all on Kauai, In Hawaii etc. should really take it all into context. Look at the science presented by these highly educated doctors and make smart decisions PLEASE!!