LIHU‘E — Limiting movement is key to keeping community spread of the novel coronavirus at bay.
Yesterday marked the first day of a state-mandated 14-day quarantine for new arrivals to the island, resident or tourist, through the end of May. And, earlier this week, a work-from-home order was set in place throughout Kaua‘i along with the nightly curfew through the end of April.
With that, the Kaua‘i Police Department has set up checkpoints around the island to ensure residents and tourists are adhering to rules set in place by Mayor Derek Kawakami and Gov. David Ige.
As of Thursday morning, there had been no citations or arrests for violations made to rules implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a KPD spokesperson. But a continued watch that rules are being followed is important, said officials.
“Unfortunately, some bad apples will always ruin the bunch, and enforcement is necessary,” Kawakami said during his Thursday COVID-19 update.
During this update, KPD Chief Todd Raybuck noted that the island’s small health-care system would not be able to handle a quick, mass spread of the virus.
As of Thursday, there were three cases on the island — one resident and two visitors, all remaining in isolation. In total, there have been five confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Kaua‘i. Kawakami said Thursday the two original positive cases, who were visitors, have fully recovered and left the island to return home to the mainland.
“We are a small community that could be impacted by this pandemic in a huge way,” Raybuck said.
Those caught violating the rules could face misdemeanor charges and fines of up to $5,000 and/or up to a year in jail.
“KPD does not wish to add to this crisis situation by writing citations or taking people to jail,” Raybuck continued.
Checkpoints are ensuring that those out and about are following rules. People are asked to stay home as much as possible, limiting travel to necessary reasons like picking up groceries, attending doctor appointments or traveling to care for the elderly, disabled or minors. Traveling to part take in outdoor activities like biking, surfing or swimming is allowed while practicing social distancing.
In part, the KPD is also screening incoming calls to determine the level and type of response. Screenings could determine if the proper response is speaking to an officer over the phone, being directed to file a report online or being asked to meet outside the home to ensure proper social distancing.
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Sabrina Bodon, public safety and government reporter, can be reached at 245-0441 or sbodon@thegardenisland.com.
What bad apples mayor? Are those bad apples like your update on Wednesday when you gave death figures on the assumption that every citizen on the island was infected- fear mongering?
People should keep in mind that they are not required to discuss their plans or where they are traveling to or from and perhaps they should also record the interaction.
How does this mandate lineup with our Constitutional Rights as Citizens of the USA? Are we under Marshal Law?
What about the citizens without Housing? Where do they Go or Stay? Can the County or State Afford Taxpayer Monies for Court Battles? Have our Political Leaders Thought this Thru? We are not all Sheep being Led to Slaughter!
The virus is real. The response is a hoax. This stay at home order is a violation of our constitutional rights. China fooled the world. The death rate in the US is 1% , considering we have tested only people that require hospitalization, the death rate is much lower, closer to the common flu. I don’t disagree that this is a danger to our community, but shutting down society is not the answer.Our economy will fall apart and in exchange for government support we will give up our freedoms. Don’t believe me? Remember 911, remember the patriot act? Now everyone is a terrorist , a suspect of the state. Being sick is now a reason to be detained and investigated. Remember people nothing is more important then our freedom. This sham being propped up by dirty politicians is a power grab to further enslave the world population. Get ready for forced vaccination and micro chipping. Sound like a sci fi movie, Bill Gates`proposed it last week. An invisible tattoo he calls it, it’s actually a microchip to prove you are up to date on your shots, just like a dog. Wake up people, resist this stay at home order and live free. Stay at home if you’re sick or old. Stay at home to protect our community. Move freely as God intended and our constitution guarantees. Resist tyranny. Impeach Ige , Kawakami and all the other fear mongering politicians trying to save their own skin and further the globalist technocratic agenda. You are free! Move about freely! Assemble freely. Speak freely. Resist tyranny. You are a sovereign soul!
Which God? Thor? Please be Thor, I love Thor… man the hammer and all.
It will be important in the future for the civil courts to determine whether or not 4 cases and no deaths constitutes a “state of emergency”. Being able to make a declaration without a clear definition opens the door to socialistic state control…THAT is not American.
Thank you.
Yay!! KPD and Mayor Kawakami and your teams. Thank you !!
So why do we still have construction on the kealia bridge going on? Seems a little hypocritical on the part of the mayor. Cost can not possibly be a reason. Hundreds of us kauai residents are beIng asked to forgo income in order to battle this virus.
So by bad apples are we talking about those people who continue to work on the Kealia bridge? Now who would be in charge of these people?…
Of course the rulers have closed down all construction, which no other island has done, except for the county’s own so called “affordable” housing projects in Koloa and Waimea. And…these are union projects. I smell a little favoritism here…you know, like the rules are for everyone else, but not us. Compared to Kauai’s small home builders these county projects are very dense with very large crews. So where’s the equity?
At least the mayor of all the other islands have enough good sense to follow Governor Ige’s stay at home order with its logical exceptions.
RG DeSoto
Test everyone who gets on or off a plane. quarantine only those positives.Use empty Hotel rooms if necessary.
begin massive infrastructure work. Hire able bodied men and women who have lost jobs.
add a LOCAL landfill tax to EVERY non biodegradable container.ie, liquor bottles, plastic detergent and other plastic containers, plastic garbage bags,etc.
Plant victory gardens at home. use containers if necessary.
Protect the keiki and kapuna…rejoice at the gift of life .Count your blessings that you’re here and not in Syria, Italy or NYC…aloha,mw
tourist in violation can spend their vacation at KCCC, no can play volleyball with the other inmates either, ha!
“Those who would give up essential liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety” – Benjamin Franklin
No better time to read the constitution.
So funny how these posters spew out vitriol at a safe distance. Could be they are secretly superspreaders, Covid deniers and disgruntled Trumpian Republicans. The ones screaming about taking their rights away are most certainly not Kauai people. Remember, in Hawaii all the Japanese meekly left Kauai to humbly be incarcerated for the duration of the war. Without complaint. Then came home, and became Christians, got boba do haircuts, and donned those crinoline skirts and max factor lipstick, then at night shucked on those cellophane skirts and did the “hula-bula” for the tourist crowd, after unanimously voting for statehood. (I am speaking of Nisei, not Hawaiians, who unless served in the military during the war, and proudly voted against statehood.)
You see, Hawaii understands what it is like to be in lockdown. The queen was locked down. The country was locked down and marshal law happened. Then it became a territory. More lockdowns. There were disasters, more lockdowns
Hawaii sadly is used to marshal law and crackdowns. We don’t complain. We obey. Because we are an obedient society that is used to having a plantation slave like mentality. Because we have no choice. We are stuck here. This is our home. We aren’t going anywhere.
We, unlike you, and those of your ilk commenting here, have zero do do with Kauai. Period. It drips from every word leaking from your poisonous fingertips. You are not “our people”. So stop whining, catch the first plane back to your point of origin, and good riddance. We LOVE our mayor.
He SAVED us!. The numbers tell the story. No news and deaths is actually good news, you brain-dead amoebas. If the numbers went up and people were dying, then it would prove what the mayor is doing isn’t working. But Kauai has the lowest case numbers, and no deaths yet. However, in exactly two to three weeks, you will see things start to skyrocket on all islands. When you are lying in the hospital room, and they tell you they are just gong to make you “comfortable”, and there are no respirators for your complaining throat, then why don’t you write another comment here, and tell us how right you are?
Oh, and if you really want a dose of wake up call, hears a good one for ya. The President has just announced that any Governor that does not “be nice to him”, is not going to get any supplies, and he has instructed Mike Pence not to answer their calls.
I am not sure if Ige has been “nice” to DJT, but he does have a trump tower in Waikiki so maybe Oahu might get something. Who knows its iffy at best. Stop whining, this is defcon 11 and you are an ant on the hot sidewalk. No one really cares about your opinion. I will stick with the man that is running our island and doing a great job. He is infinitely more qualified than any of you bozos thats for sure.
All the stupid idiots grumbling about there freedom shit the hell up. Are you guys stupid? If we don’t do this people you know will die 100% guarantee. We do not have the resources on island or will we get help from anyone the whole world is going through this you think little old Kauai will get any help ? I don’t think so idiots there is much more bigger cities in line before us dumb shits. I hope you get Covid and you don’t have a ventilator.
Very good article! And all actions of our Mayor Kawakami against covid-19 is extremely important for all us! I say praise the Lord for this person with so necessarily now real wisdom!..Only like with some walking after 9pm looks our police officers must do some not dangerous to other people exceptions and in seriously cases…But it is not a sin of Mr. Kawakami – nothing can be perfect from the beginning in this world and I believe that he and our leaders will work with such problems too. All other things looks absolutely right and we must obey/to keep it very exactly and keep a peace on the Island from very possible criminal actions with this situation with covid-19. ***Open your eyes, friends! You mix everything with very good words about our civil rights (!)…Some people/exactly “bad apples” (!), even in the Walmart some still not keep proper distance! ***BUT – after 2 weeks we will have 7 millions infected in USA main land, after 2 more weeks will 100 times more. Mostly infected have no any symptoms!.. It is very easy mathematics with links and diagram… About 2 days ago I found it in Facebook on the page of great American scientist and real (!!) human rights fighter*** Alexander Goldfarb!!
If we did reopen, what could happen?
Poland: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/26/coronavirus-us-second-wave-pandemic-trump-loosens-restrictions-easter
…It means your hospitals are overrun. People are on carts in the hallways, and they die in the hallway waiting for medical care. There aren’t enough ventilators, IV fluids, doctors and nurses. It’s a scenario you never want to see. So if everybody goes back to work, people start dying in droves.
“If we don’t do this people you know will die 100% guarantee” And you know this how? The amount of fear you are perpetuating is ridiculous. Not even the mainstream pushers of fear would say something so easily proven false. Hoping people get Covid and suffer is also completely ridiculous. We need to spread HOPE not fear and disdain for people who disagree with you. I suggest throwing your TV in the trash and going for a hike