HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0843.119 2018-2020 Co:: TY CLERK
C(.UIVTY OF HAWAI'I
RECEIVED
Fri 3/20/2020 9:25 AM Time q'' AP By M
Testimony for Covid-19 management on Hawai'i Island Date MAR 2 0 2020
To: Council Testimony
Aloha,
I firmly believe it is imperative that all in-bound travel to Hawai'i Island is to be cancelled for at
least two weeks, but preferably one month. We have an opportunity to take precautions now
before the virus gets completely out of control. Our hospitals cannot handle a large number of
people becoming ill, and our community depends largely on small businesses who will take the
worst hit economically if this virus continues to spread.
Here is a quote from a Hospice Doctor that a friend of mine works with:
From the doc I work with at the hospice:
"We have 24 ICU beds on this island, and 39 ventilators. Approximately 15% of Covid cases are
severe. Simple math dictates that once we have a few hundred cases on island our hospitals will
be overwhelmed. In Italy they are having to ration ventilators. We don't want to have to do that
on Hawaii island. It's not too late to protect this island, but drastic measures are going to need to
be taken. Everything needs to be canceled, everyone needs to stay home, and tourism needs to
stop. The virus can't spread if everyone is at home-it will die out. Lockdown is coming one way
or another. The question is how many people have to get sick before we go to lockdown? Do you
want to have a functioning medical system when we do?"
Please act now to make sure our Island community stays safe from this virus and the economic
fallout it will eventually cause if we do nothing but wait, and react.
Mahalo! •
Katy Paun
Pahoa, HI 96778
Comm. No. 4:341)3141
Ref.To: PI Cola
Ref. Date MAR 2 0 2020