NUKOLI‘I — “People want to know,” said Charlie Iona, one of the coordinators for the visit by the Doctors of Waikiki team, Wednesday at the Kaua‘i Beach Resort. “There are more than 200 appointments for the team’s visit that started at 10 a.m. and continued through 5 p.m. People just want the peace of mind. They all want to be tested.”
Led by Dr. Tonyi Trpkovski, the Doctors of Waikiki team conducted tests for COVID-19 antibodies in a drive-through format in the parking garage of the Kaua‘i Beach Resort.
Patients were assessed for vital signs before a drop of blood was drawn for testing. Once done, patients waited in a parking area while the tests were analyzed and the final report being presented by Trpkovski wearing one of his personally designed full face shield over his traditional face mask.
“We could do a lot more tests,” he said. “If we had more time.”
If a positive result was returned from the antibody test, a swab test was conducted, the swap sample having to wait for results from the lab.
“Appointments are in 30-minute blocks to prevent traffic congestion,” Iona said. “In fact, we allowed the team 30 minutes for lunch. We’re supposed to be there now, but people come early.”
Iona said the Doctors of Waikiki team visit came coincidentally on the day the county announced four new COVID-19 cases.
“Dr. Trpkovski was on the ‘Mel Rapozo and Charlie Iona Show,’ a social media podcast that is archived on You Tube,” said Iona. “Mel and myself were wondering why aren’t there more testing. Dr. Scott Miscovich of the Premier Medical Group made an appearance on the show, as did Dr. Janet Berreman of the Kaua‘i District Health Office who felt the novel coronavirus was ‘pretty much under control.’”
Trpkovski expressed an interest in coming over to do testing on Kaua‘i, and we referred him to Local 5, the union representing more than 12,000 hospitality, health care, and food service workers in Hawai‘i.
The team of six was brought to Kaua‘i through Pono Business Services, Iona said.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
