HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0843.218 2018-2020 COUNTY CLERK
COUNTY OF HAWAII
RECEIVED
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Fri 3/20/2020 10:00 AM Date MAR 2 0 2020
Testimony for today's coronavirus Council meeting
To: Council Testimony -
Dear Council Members,
- Thank you for convening this emergency meeting today. We are writing to express our hopes for
coronavirus management on Hawaii Island.-
Given that we have only 24 ICU beds and 39 ventilators on this island,we would like better
controls for avoiding an outbreak here. First, it is our hope that County workers will soon be'able
to work from home,to protect their health and that of their families.
Secondly,we are worried that tourists—both from other Hawaiian islands and elsewhere—
will flock to the Big Island because our coronavirus rules are more relaxed than elsewhere in the
state. This puts stress on the Big Island's food-supply chain and increases the threat to our
island's medical facilities and health-care workers.
Accordingly,we urge the Council to support House Speaker Scott Saiki's letter to Governor Ige.
It contains measures for temporarily halting inter-island travel and out-of-state travel. It
quarantines all travelers arriving from outside Hawaii for 15 days. It authorizes Hawaii •
Emergency Management Agency Director Kenneth Hara to take firmer control of the supply
chain for necessities such as food,medicine, water, gasoline, and health-care equipment.
Having Hara at the helm will help address Mayor Kim's concern about the food-supply chain. In
addition,we believe that more take-out and"non-contact" delivery services, and perhaps more
locations to pick up household supplies,will adequately address worries about the local
distribution of food and other goods. Certainly, it is easier to maintain the CDC's recommended
6 feet of distance between individuals with delivery and pickup options, as opposed to dining
rooms at restaurants.
Should it become apparent that individuals are not maintaining 6 feet of distance between them
in businesses and public areas,we would support stronger measures, such as sheltering in place.
Indeed, since our extended family on this island includes members who are 60+or have
underlying health conditions, some of us already are sheltering as much as possible.
Thank you again for this meeting today, as well as for the opportunity to submit testimony.
Aloha,
Joan Obra
Ralph Gaston
Lorie Obra
Comm. No. S11)•1115
Ref. To: PU.OU"
Ref. Date MAR 2 0 2020