Editor’s Note: Questions about stay-at-home orders can be submitted to tinyurl.com/TGIQ-A and The Garden Island staff will do our best to find you an answer by contacting county officials and Kauai District Health Officer Dr. Janet Berreman. Be aware these answers are informed with the latest directives from officials and can change as official rules and recommendations change. Contact the Hawai‘i Department of Health or your physician for official COVID-19 symptoms and steps to take if you think you have the virus.
Q: My mother-in-law has dementia and lives alone in Lihu‘e. We live in Wailua Homesteads and drive to Lihue to take care of her. If stopped what kind of documentation do we need?
A: Leaving the house to care for the elderly, minors, dependents persons with disabilities or persons in a high-risk group is allowed. Additionally, a local rule notes that more than one person from a household may leave the residence to engage in supervisory care for a person in one of these groups.
There have been no official rules stating that official documents must be shown at checkpoints.
Q: Do I have to follow the 9 p.m. curfew if I am subsistence fishing? Some of the fish I am targeting only come out at night.
A: Subsistence fishing and hunting are exempt from curfew restrictions, per an amendment to the Mayor’s Emergency Rule No. 2, which is the curfew.
Q: Is there an approved (official) set of directions about how to make a protective face mask that could be effective at reducing the chance of spreading COVID?
A: Cloth face coverings are a good added layer of prevention to slow the spread of COVID in our community. A cloth mask that covers the nose and mouth stops respiratory droplets from going out into the environment or to other people. This is what is meant by “my mask protects you.” By wearing a mask, we protect those around us. In addition, “your mask protects me.” If you are wearing a mask, I am less likely to be exposed to your respiratory droplets.
These are not medical grade masks, and there is no one way they need to be made. There are many patterns publicly available, and anything that is easy to make and comfortable to wear is fine. Even a bandana tied to cover the nose and mouth helps keeps your germs to yourself. The fabric should be washable and tightly woven, preferably cotton.
Masks should be worn whenever people are outside the house and around others — shopping, running errands, riding the bus, or at work. It is not necessary to wear a mask when exercising alone outdoors, although it is fine to do so.
Masks are not a substitute for keeping a distance of 6 feet from others, washing hands frequently, and staying at home as much as possible. All of these measures, taken together by all of us, are our best chance for slowing the spread of COVID-19. – Dr. Janet Berreman
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Sabrina Bodon, public safety and government reporter, can be reached at 245-0441 or sbodon@thegardenisland.com.
