Vaccinate, quarantine, test, avoid cluster sites
I am so disappointed in Kaua‘i right now. There is no reason that we should have the most COVID cases in the state, nor the number of hospitalizations — which is 12 as of 11/17/21. What this tells me is that our residents simply do not malama Kaua‘i.
I realize that we have a contingent of 40 to 50 years old and under who want to be rebels and don’t want to be told what to do. I was a child of the ’70s so I do get this! But I was a well-educated child of the ’70s who vaccinated my children while feeding them healthy food and supplements and have continued to do my research while working in health and fitness for 30+ years.
I for one didn’t always get the flu vaccine until I felt I needed it while caring for older family members who were in ill health. Now that I’m a kupuna I plan to get it regularly. Why? Because it makes sense to me.
Of my eight grandchildren who are over the age of 5, most of them will be receiving the COVID vaccine — these are choices being made by their parents who are health-care professionals. One is a nurse in Washington state, the other works in physical therapy here on Kaua‘i — both of them have done their research.
I am happy for my grandchildren to be vaccinated for several reasons: I want them to be protected; I am also happy that they are protecting their community and that by doing this they can safely and more fully enjoy life, including attending events such as traveling to theme parks on the mainland that now require vaccine passports for children and as well as traveling safely in general, including traveling abroad.
You can all continue to complain and protest, but ultimately it will not do you any good.
At the very least, if you do not want to vaccinate yourself or your children, can you please at least quarantine and test three to five days after traveling, and stop attending known cluster locales and then mixing in with the community?
Just please do the minimum to show Kaua‘i that you care. Is that too much to ask?
Petrina Blakely, Kapa‘a
If you’re printing money, I’ll take a billion
Rather than print trillions of dollars willy nilly, why not just print up one billion and give it to each citizen of the USA?
This would be a lot cheaper (about $300 billion) than the trillions advocated by Democrats (who seem to have gone bonkers). Except for the risk of hyperinflation, everyone would be set for life! Also, no more complaining would be allowed anymore by anybody after getting their one billion.
Molly Jones, Kealia
Problems exist beyond virus itself
Just when I thought I was done writing COVID-19 letters to the editor, it occurred to me that some people must not care.
On our island, each day 25% to 30% of the daily cases have been children. However, on Friday, Nov. 12, the count for children was 50%.
As usual, it was community spread due to contact with previously documented cases. So it would appear that some people with COVID-19 don’t quarantine, don’t tell others to stay away and or don’t give a damn about others.
Then there are the ones who can’t be bothered to return calls to the Department of Health (wow, that’s a hardship — make a phone call so close contacts can be advised).
And then there are the ones who refuse to give any information. And yet no consequence for that type of betrayal. Naw, let all get sick, and their kids, too.
And forget about the “super-secret” CLUSTERS, who cannot be named because… Wait, why can’t we know about clusters? A restaurant? A place of worship? A store?
But we’re all having such a great time with COVID-19 while Kaua‘i has the lowest vaccination rate in the state.
Lawrence Hornbeck, Kilauea
We want our morning newspaper
We noted your announcement of delivery disruption a few days ago. We are of a generation who for decades enjoyed reading a hard-copy newspaper over our morning coffee.
We realize that this service is no longer a priority for newspapers. Profits are to be made elsewhere, and we are no longer relevant to your business plan even though we pay our subscription fees. We nevertheless need to express our sadness and disappointment in this “new normal.”
Monty and Elaine Downs, Kapa‘a
Carbon pricing a vital tool
The AP article in “The Garden Island” on Thursday, Nov. 11, on the sale of oil and gas leases by the U.S., is disturbing for those of us worried about the climate catastrophe.
There would be a much-greater impact from a carbon price as opposed to trying to come up with a policy about leasing.
Carbon pricing is a cost-effective, efficient way to reduce emissions and with cash back to residents, as supported by Senators Schatz, Deutsh and Whitehouse. The policy helps low- and middle-income families.
It will create jobs and save lives with cleaner air and water. Rep. Kai Kahele agrees, along with many economists and Janet Yellen. Rep. Ed Case is for carbon pricing, and Sen. Mazie Hirono, concerned with climate change, is a champion for economic justice. Carbon pricing is a vital tool we hope gains enough traction to prevail.
Bobbie Best, Wailuku
Enough with all hatred
Really? Violence over mask-wearing and other COVID restrictions in our libraries?
Growing up, libraries were a safe place where we showed respect for the people and for the things we were allowed to explore.
I say enough with the hatred in our society. If you don’t like the restrictions a business puts in place to protect ALL AMERICANS, then stay out of them. Don’t ruin it for the rest of us.
Christine Dorland, Kapa‘a
I think politics is an interesting topic. You have democrats and republicans always gathering together and making up this bill or law of $1 trillion dollar package, and trying to figure out how the business and public sector will respond. I’ll start first with the bill of rights. Is is their right to represent the community as a whole to see to it that we get enough income from retirement? Or to see if we get enough of our money back, from paying taxes? Or getting a reduction in medical care expenses? The 2500 pages of the bill of which I think I would not care at all to make any sense of it. But if democrats and republicans feel this bill will put America in a place at least known, and not just going out of whack and in deficit, then can I just say, where do you think each representative will become a part of the solution?
I cannot see how anyone can call Kai Kahele or Ed Case and see if they can bring in more income to the elderly, when they are struggling with their stimulus checks every year. I don’t see how the politicians can be of any influence or help. But still they want to represent elders, then go right ahead. But at what point do you call them ridiculous? I’ll call them ridiculous at the point when the elders are making more income than them, and be able to live the rest of their lives more comfortable with family. This would be the politicians job. To make the elders life more comfortable. Hog wash, but okay.
Who then do we vote for? I cannot answer that. The public must decide which is the best candidate for them. And then hope for the best. Who ever he ends up with.
Molly you’re bad at math. Your number is off by a factor of one million.
Or maybe she thinks there are only 300 people in the US?
Thank you Lawrence – for being another voice of reason for Kaua’i. I am truly appalled by the behavior of our citizens in regards to Covid. We could be so far out of the woods by now if more of them actually cared that we have the highest number of patients ever in the hospital right now including several on ventilators.
Despite the likelihood that I will never need it personally, I recently got a pertussis vaccine along with my tetanus booster. Why bother? Because I had a newborn in the family for whom the “whooping cough” could have been deadly, and who was too young to have that well child doctor visit inoculation. I remember when my mother in law didn’t want to put my first child in a car seat, but explained she would “just hold onto him real tight”. She started using the seat when I suggested she risked using the baby as an air bag.
Don’t use your children and grandchildren as air bags. Get the vaccination for their sake, if not yours.
Great analogy – right on! Mahalo for one more voice of reason.
Molly, if you have all Americans 1 billion it would be 327 trillion. 325 trillion more than the infrastructure package. If you mean 1 billion spread among America that would be $3 per person. You may also mean it woul only cost $300 billion to give every American 1 billion but sadly there are way more than 300 Americans. Whichever way you meant you are wrong.
Actually, I think the number is 327 quadrillion. That will certainly cause hyperinflation, which seems to be Molly’s point.
I cannot help but correct the math of Molly Jones, who suggests the government give all citizens a billion dollars each. I am assuming she is multiplying an estimate of 300 million citizens by a billion, which equals 300 quadrillion dollars, not the $300 billion she calculates. That is 300 followed by 15 zeroes. I share her sentiments about our government’s habit of printing money for dubious purposes. The recent passage by the House of Representatives for a $2 trillion bill is an example. A trillion is a number so large that if you were to count up to it, it would take you 31,709 years to get to it. Even that amount of years would be insufficient for the next generations to pay back the incredible national debt that we already have and keep adding to recklessly. The first thing to do when you find yourself in a hole is to stop digging.
Strange if you can not understand why people do not want to get vaccinated. Means you are not listening or educating yourself. Personal choice is the pinnicle of America. Do some research outside of the corperate controlled media. Many studies have been done by Harvard, Stanford, and other well informed institutions that contradict what the Pizer drones are telling you on the nightly news. Open your mind. By the way I have been vaccinated but will not be getting a booster.
There is equally valid and scientific research that clearly shows the vaccinated can spread the Covid too? So should they also test and quarantine for 3-5 days? Or should they be allowed freedom to roam freely and potentially asymptomatic when they return from travel.
We can ALL be responsible – stay home when sick, wash hands, eat well.
I’m grateful everyone can make the choice that is best for them and those they care about.
Maybe those vaccinated that are so loudly against the unvaccinated could consider extending the same courtesy to those who choose against the vaccines for any number of their own personal reasons. It is not “appalling behavior” by those who “don’t care about Kauai”.
After all – we are all humans – can we please go back to treating each other as such? Respect each other, love each other, and protect everyones right to have a choice, voice, and difference of opinion. ENOUGH WITH THE DIVISIVENESS ALREADY!
Obviously! I am vaccinated and boosted and whenever I travel I come home to quarantine 3 – 5 days and test before I re-engage socially on the island. Why do I do this? Because I know that I can be a carrier of Covid and I care about the island and my family. It’s not that hard to be responsible.
Thanksgiving gathering for everyone at Mr Zuckerbergs beach with free FOOD and DRINKS, allowing Kauai to get closer as a community.
I’m vaccinated and got my booster 3 weeks ago. But my position has changed regarding the pandemic. Seeing other states do away with all restrictions and resume normalcy, sways me to advocate for the same here in Hawaii. It’s time to end all government restrictions and mandates and return to the way things were before Covid. Yes, we will probably see an increase in cases, but that’s life. There are no guarantees. Let each person and business decide for themselves how much protection they want or require and folks can chose their own course of action. If someone chooses not to get vaccinated, that’s fine. It’s their decision and they then should accept the consequences of their behavior and choice. Let businesses open fully, let mask wearing become optional and let’s get on with our lives.