HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0843.092 2018-2020 COUNTY CLERK
COUNTY OF HAWAII
RECEIVED
Fri 3/20/2020 9:37 AM Time Q: Oink By dep
COVID19 Crisis: Please Use Common Sense&Expert Advice Date MAR 2 0 2020
To: Council Testimony
Mayor Kim&Council Members—
As a scientist living in Hawaii, I'm alarmed by your inaction and your lack of care for people on this
island.With all of our lives at stake,I beg of you to use common sense and seek expert advice.
As I'm sure you know—because the President and the CDC has shared projections with the Governor who
in turn shared them with you—the pandemic is forecast to hit our island bad.
Conservatively,the CDC is suggesting at a minimum a 15%island-wide infection rate, of which 80%will
need hospitalization and 3%will die. This means conservatively, of the roughly 200,000 residents on-
island, 30,000 will develop symptoms and 24,000 will require hospitalization before the end of the year.
Assuming mainland-like healthcare, 720 of those people will die. But of course we don't have enough
hospital beds for 24,000, so clearly the death toll from COVID-19 and all the people denied care to make
way for COVID-19 patients will be far greater.
Harvard Medical is projecting much more harsh numbers: they expect 40%-70%infection rates. This
translates to 80,000-140,000 infected residents and 64,000-112,000 requiring hospitalization. Assuming
we had the capacity to treat that in our hospitals, 1,920-3,360 deaths.
By ignoring the directive from the President of the United States and the CDC and Governor Ige this
week,you have undoubtedly already sentenced hundreds of people to death through your inaction.With
the disease spreading exponentially, including right here on Hawaii, every day you do nothing are dozens
of people you're adding to our death toll. In the May 1960 tsunami, 63 people were killed in Hilo. Sadly,
you have killed.far more people this week alone.
And these are conservative estimates: we're seeing scary trends around the country. As you know,
California assumes worse than the 15%infection rate now;their governor now believes 56%of his 40
million constituents will become infected. Weeks ago,New York State had no cases. Today,they have
thousands of cases and 39 deaths. In Pennsylvania, a 1 year old toddler is hospitalized. In New Jersey,
more than 50%(rather than the 20%projected) of positive patients require hospitalization...including
many children there too. In many places around the country,we also see healthcare workers becoming
seriously ill with the virus; we will undoubtedly see our workers fall victim here too. While this is a lethal
disease among those older than 60,new CDC analysis shows young people are becoming dangerously ill
too.
You've already tarnished your legacy by fostering an environment of inaction that will lead dozens, if not
hundreds, dead in the weeks ahead. Please, I beg you, follow the instructions from the President,the
CDC, and the Governor: close all public places, restaurants, and bars island-wide and consider more
drastic shelter-in-place rules to stem further spread of this killer in our community. If you don't,your
names will be synonymous with the most deadly event to strike Hawaii Island ever in recorded history.
Michael Konowicz
Comm. No. )RZ
Ref. To: P(043w
Ref. Date MAR 2 0 2020