HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0843.135 2018-2020 COUNTY CLERK
COUNTY OF HAWAI'I
RECEIVED
Fri 3/20/2020 9:08 AM Time Q+O$41M By Aff
COVID19 testimony Date MAR 2 0 2020
To: Council Testimony
Dear Hawaii County Council,
As a member of this community I am deeply concerned for our people and livelihoods. As we
have seen around the world, the Coronavirus is highly contagious and can be spread by
asymptomatic people. The only way social distancing works to stop a virus is if everyone
participates. This is a democracy and though our mayor does have power, he is not a dictator.
The 81 year-old mayor does not know better than our leading health officials and scientists
around the world. While I understand the economic, emotional, and overall impacts that closing
things down has on everyone, that short amount of time is nothing compared to the damage that
could be caused by allowing the vius to ravage its way through our community. It's important to
point out, that if the rest of the world, state, and country get this virus under control and Hawaii
Island doesn't, the impacts will be devastating and cause irreparable harm to the people that call
this island home. It's time that the mayor either step up and do the right thing,step aside, or
immediately resign.
Mayor Kim crippled the economy of the Big Island during the eruption because he refused to
allow anyone to see it, even the media went through a circus to report on the eruption under
Mayor Kim's Administration. I'm not sure where Hawaii County Civil Defense and the mayor
are getting their information but over two weeks ago Talmadge Magno claimed the numbers
were going down and to look at the charts. Look at Italy, Spain and now Switzerland. The Kim
Administration are incompetent and need to be mandated what to do because they are failing the
people of Hawaii Island. During the eruption the one goal they had was that no one gets hurt or
dies,,but here we are and now everyone's life is at stake and they don't seem to care.
We need real leadership, not someone who thinks they know everything and that they can go
above what are leading scientist and health officials tell us. This isn't politics. This is Life as We
Know It. And for some, their life is literally on the line.
As for testing. What an epic nightmare, embarrassment and utter failure. My doctor has literally
been trying to get me tested for weeks. Both my partner and I have been symptomatic, tested
negative for the flu, been in contact with tourists, and had our doctor request us be tested for
COVID19,but only travelers or with direct exposure to those who have tested positive can;get
tested. For all we know,we have had direct contact with passengers that have tested positive off
the Grand Princess, but due to lack of information and DOH being unwilling to give us any
answers, we still don't know their itinerary in Hilo on February 29th. Nor do we know where the
Colorado woman that came to Hilo and is now positive as well as the woman at the Naniloa and
what their itineraries were and where they went and who they were in contact with. My partner
Works downtown on February 29th with passengers off the Grand Princess but the Department
of Health refuses to tell us the itinerary of those passengers even though they publicly promised
to do so. I implore our County Council to find out this critical information for the members of
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your community. We are already weeks, if not months,;behind in action, while the virus is
definitely here running a muck. .... -.-.
I would also like to know, as someone who cannot get tested but it's still symptomatic why State
Senator Loraine Inouye has been tested while having zero symptoms?!? As someone with
symptoms for weeks and a normal human citizen of Hawaii Island, why can't get a test?
As someone with a severely compromised immune system, I'm not only appalled,but devastated
and terrified by the interaction of our County Government on every single level.
Last week, Mayor Harry Kim sat before you promising toff do better. Is this your idea of doing
better?
Please act before it's too late.
yahalo nui loa for your time,
Crystal Richard
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