Dear Governor Ige;
The successful quarantine system established on Kaua‘i in the months since the outbreak of the pandemic has once again saved Kaua‘i.
Kaua‘i has thus far escaped the worst ravages that other islands have faced during this pandemic. Now we need assurance that we don’t lose those gains. And our concerns extend to the residents of O‘ahu and the other neighbor islands.
A current case in point, just announced yesterday, proves both the efficacy of the quarantine system, and the inability of the 72-hour pre-test to prevent seeding of the virus into our several communities and allowing community spread to take hold.
This week Dr. Janet Berreman announced in detail the two cases that are the only-known, currently-active cases on Kaua‘i. Each was a person who had entered Hawai‘i from the mainland and respected the quarantine upon arrival. In each case the person was asymptomatic, and unaware that he/she was carrying the virus. When the individuals fell ill they both tested positive. In both of these cases, a single pre-test would have failed entirely to contain a potential seeding. The quarantine, however, saved us.
Governor Ige, a large number of medical experts have been explaining that the single-test plan is highly flawed and likely to lead to tragic results for many of the residents of the state. In the opinion of physicians, emerging-disease specialists, neurologists, cardiologists, pulmonologists, it will be a fatal mistake.
Allowing free circulation of visitors from the mainland or other countries on the basis of a single test done 72 hours prior to the flight will bring in new seedings of community outbreak and spread onto each island that accepts those visitors.
The people of Hawai‘i are counting on you to take the necessary time to assure that a safer plan, with all its elements, is in place before it is too late to undo the damage.
As for the argument that the economy requires “opening,” you, yourself, stated not long ago that the economy will not recover until the health of the state recovers. The economists were supporting your view. I am sure you were right then, and now you would be right to assume that it is essential to avoid seeding new cases into the state population.
Thank you for your attention to this very serious matter.
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Phyllis Albert, Ph.D., is a resident of Koloa.
