Shopping and social distancing

LIHU‘E — Clarissa Carvalho says wearing a mask as a precautionary measure against contracting COVID-19 is “awkward” but necessary.

As a Lihu‘e Costco employee, Carvalho has to follow the social-distancing protocol recommended by the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention, which has a list of preventative measures that can be taken against the virus — things like handwashing and staying away from large crowds.

The state Department of Heath recommends healthy people only wear a mask if they are caring for a person with a suspected coronavirus infection. The DOH also recommends wearing a mask if for those coughing and sneezing.

Many healthy people around the island, however, are wearing masks as measures against getting sick.

Aside from social distancing protocols, Costco is also choosing to have single-file lines and red tape at the cash register, illustrating the recommended distance, Carvalho said.

Carvalho, along with her friend Crystal Braun, both of Lihu‘e, were stocking up to prepare for the mayor-mandated curfew that took effect Friday 9 p.m. through 5 a.m. and continues daily until further notice. Every individual in the county has to stay in their residence during those specific hours unless they have a work-related exemption.

Consumers are in panic mode trying to get their necessary shopping completed before the start of the curfew.

“Sometimes you feel like you are getting some looks at the grocery store,” Carvalho said. “We really notice when people in public aren’t doing anything because others are banging into you in the store. One lady stepped on me like I was invisible.”

Braun, also a Lihu‘e resident, noticed frantic behavior in response to the curfew.

“We are trying to hurry up and get all of our shopping done with the limited time we have,” Braun said. “The urgency people have while shopping is defeating the purpose of this curfew.”

Braun, who was laid off from Kaua‘i Bowl and Ae Kamali‘i Preschool, was also doing shopping for a 90-year-old grandfather at home, to limit his potential exposure to people in pubic that may be infected with COVID-19.

“I tell him to not go out, and I force him to stay home,” Braun said. “That is why I do the shopping. I don’t panic, and I still try to do regular stuff. I am still looking for two cups of rice. I wish more people wouldn’t be greedy and leave some on the shelves.”

Carvalho admits it’s hard to put space between herself and others with the wild nature of grocery-store consumers trying to stock up fearing a statewide mandated lockdown.

“It is hard to get some social distance in a crowd of people trying to get their groceries before nine,” Carvalho said. “It might backfire, but it is the first day, and people have to take time to adjust.”

Michelle Alimboyoguen replaced her traditional hugging with what she calls “boot pumps,” where friends and acquaintances bump each other with their boots to avoid unnecessary contact with others.

Alimboyoguen, who operates a private massage business in Kilohana Plantation in Puhi and has shut down her business because of a lack of clients, said it feels strange not to greet people with a hug.

“It feels awkward to not hug each other because we are the Aloha State,” Alimboyoguen said.

Alimboyoguen’s boyfriend, Karl Ramirez, a bartender at the Hyatt Regency Kaua‘i Resort &Spa in Po‘ipu, was also stocking up at Costco to prepare for the worst.

“We want to do our part to make sure the virus doesn’t spread,” Ramirez said. “We wish people would take this situation a little more seriously.”

Ramirez said he and his girlfriend aren’t just going to practice social distancing. They are going to practice social isolation.

“We are just going to stay away from the public, and we are going to hunker down with the family,” Ramirez said. “Lots of people are going to lose their jobs or get laid off. That is scary times for sure.”

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Jason Blasco, sports reporter, can be reached at 245-0437 or jblasco@thegardenisland.com.