HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0843.206 2018-2020 COUNTY CLERK
COUNTY OF HAWAII
RECEIVED,
Fri 3/20/2020 8:13 AM Time S�lam_ � C
Covid-19 Date MAR 2 0 2020
To: Council Testimony
To: the Hawaii County Council
I would like to encourage you and the mayor to heed the Governor's and the President's
recommendations for social distancing to blunt the curve. Our very small church is going live
stream because our state-run library meeting room where we normally meet is not being rented
during this crisis. Is this a hardship? Yes. But is this the right thing to do? Absolutely! We are
very happy to do our part to blunt the curve and stop the spread of the virus. I suggest that the
county take similar measures in shutting down county-run facilities in order to blunt the curve
and stop the spread of the virus before it becomes a major problem on our island. Leaving the
decision up to the individuals or groups involved will most likely not work: as long as the facility
is open, people will come. As long as restaurants, churches, or other organizations are given the
encouragement to decide for themselves without any strong guidance from the county, some will
continue to draw people together as always. Case in point is the Big Island International
Marathon that took place last Sunday, bringing people from several foreign countries, including
Japan, Australia, France, Germany, and others, and from many US states, including New York
and California, including cities such as San Francisco which have widespread community-spread
Covid-19, to our island. Thus far, most, if not all, diagnosed cases of Covid-19 in Hawaii are a
result of travel elsewhere. Bringing in so many visitors and not having any strong policies or
closures of facilities for purposes of social distancing is a recipe for disaster. I strongly urge the
council to consider what measures may be undertaken that would enhance social distancing by
taking strong measures now so that we do not end up having to take stronger and longer
measures later.
Thank you for your consideration,
Mary Jo Stevenson Fullen
Comm. No. 511)'200
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