Ka‘ū News Briefs, Monday, August 3, 2020

Mark Cocucci, an organizer of the new Ocean View  Community Market, was a regular vendor at Ocean View  swap meet, which has been postponed indefinitely.  Photo by Annie Bosted

     One of the organizers, Mark Cocucci, said he has ambitious plans to build up the market to be a strong community resource, while cautioning that it will take a collective effort.
     The market will be open each Saturday starting about 6:30 a.m. for the early birds, and ending about 2 p.m.
     The market will also open on Wednesdays starting Aug. 12. The property owner has agreed to a 90-day trial run. In keeping with COVID protocols, the organizers may have to limit visitation to make it pono, right, for everyone. "We want this to be drama-free," says Cocucci. "We will not tolerate any fighting and will evict any trouble makers."

Helen McCullough and Ricky Gordon with a few of  their stained-glass offerings. Photo by Annie Bosted

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VOTERS WHO MISS THE AUG. 3 DEADLINE to postmark their ballots for the 2020 Primary Election can walk them into to Nāʻālehu Police Station, 24 hours a day, until Aug. 8 at 7 p.m. Other drop-off places around the island include Pāhoa Police Station, County of Hawaiʻi Aupuni Center in Hilo, Waimea Police Station, West Hawaiʻi Civic Center in Kona, and Rodney Yano Hall in Capt. Cook.

TODAY'S STATE RECORD OF 207 COVID-19 CASES was, in part, the result of delays at the testing lab. The state Department of Health reported that about 114 of the cases come from delayed results over the weekend from Clinical Laboratories of Hawai‘i, which conducts most COVID-19 tests in the state.
     The total number of hospitalizations statewide during the pandemic passed 200 today. In response, public officials discussed reducing the number of people allowed to gather to ten, indoors or out. The rule went into effect today on O‘ahu. Also under consideration is reinstating the interisland travel quarantine and possibly pushing back the opening of trans-Pacific travel past Sept. 1, should the case count continue to rise.

State Epidemiologist Dr. Sarah Park.  Photo from the governor's office

     State Epidemiologist Dr. Sarah Park said the delay in reporting cases involves results back to July 31. "This is likely a result of recent modifications in data reporting required by the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services. We have advised the affected laboratory to provide manual reporting of data until they're able to correct the reporting issues. This is impacting our ability to quickly identify and investigate new persons with COVID-19 and to contact trace."
     Gov. David Ige said, "The number of contact tracers currently on staff are managing today's demands. The DOH is activating more contact tracers to handle the expected increase in cases." He also pointed out the National Guard has 60 contact tracers available to assist at a moment's notice and scale up on contact-tracing capacity.
     However, the governor and DOH both noted that contact tracing isn't a substitute for safe practices. Ige said, "As we re-opened, many people have relaxed their vigilance and this new surge is a result. If we don't get this surge under control, we may need to put back some restrictions and no one wants to see that. We can only beat COVID-19 by working together. Everyone needs to take personal responsibility. Wear a mask, wash your hands, practice physical distancing, avoid large gatherings, stay home if you're sick, and keep your children home if they feel sick. We were successful in keeping the virus under control and I know we can do it again."

Health Director Dr. Bruce Anderson.  Photo from the governor's office

     Health Director Dr. Bruce Anderson said, "It's becoming increasingly more difficult to detail all of the situations in which people are becoming infected with coronavirus. It runs the whole gamut of hanging out with close friends, socializing in bars, attending religious events and funerals, and many other types other social gatherings. This virus does not discriminate on who it infects and the only way to prevent its spread is to limit exposure to others by using face coverings, physical distancing, and avoiding gatherings and crowded places. Unfortunately, Hawai‘i is experiencing spikes in cases similar to many mainland states, and in most cases, we can track new infections back to those who have let down their guard. Everyone needs to take this very seriously."

     DOH reports that, over the weekend, "Many beaches on O‘ahu were as crowded as they were before the COVID-19 outbreak. On Maui, Little Beach in Makena State Park was less crowded than normal. This was likely the result of social media postings that suggested law enforcement would be on scene to break up so-called drum circles. Health investigations have traced at least one case in a person who recently attended a drum circle. With an estimated 100 people on the beach for sunset at Makena and the rising of the full moon, there were no masks in evidence and there appeared to be little, if any, physical distancing between groups of people. The scene here was repeated on beaches and in parks across the state."

     Department of Land & Natural Resources Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement reports numerous complaints involving State Parks. They include overcrowding trails and coastal areas and crowding onto small boats without masks, and ignoring distancing rules.

     Anderson said, "As long as individuals in our communities fail to accept personal responsibility for the spread of COVID-19, we are unfortunately going to see continued days of triple-digit numbers. This already has resulted in the renewal of restrictions on large social gatherings and other conditions and is likely going to lead to additional ones.

     "We are once again, as we have from the beginning of this crisis, asking every resident of Hawai‘i to take this threat with the utmost seriousness. Life, as we knew it, pre-COVID-19, cannot return to normal until we again flatten the infection curve. It takes everyone doing their part by following the simple and now-common steps: wear your mask, physically distance, wash your hands frequently and, perhaps most important, stay home if sick. With everyone's kōkua, we can get back to where we were and enjoy all the good things life in Hawai‘i has to offer.

Kailua artist Shar Tuiasoa of Punky Aloha Studios  offers her mask sign for free to businesses and schools.

     "We expect to see spikes, but we don't want to see steady increases. Contact tracing is a reactionary step. It doesn't substitute for distancing, masks, washing hands, and the other steps we've been taking."

     Park said, "It's disappointing and dangerous to people's health, for anyone to continue to encourage and actively promote these big groups. Everyone should avoid large gatherings and crowded places and use proven, common-sense, and simple steps to protect our community from COVID-19. Our biggest concern is that we continue to see these new cases with no known association to previous clusters. The common theme is people are letting their guard down. It's okay to be with family and friends, but keep your distance and mask up, whether you're outside or inside."

     Park's Disease Outbreak Control Division is "receiving an increasing number of calls related to COVID-19 guidance for businesses, including cleaning and disinfection guidelines, and recommended procedures in response to a positive coronavirus case in an employee."

     Avoiding crowds, wearing face masks, and using physical distancing are all proven methods for preventing COVID-19. Always obtain information from credible sources such as the CDC and DOH for the best actions to protect self, family, friends, and co-workers. The State said detailed guidance is available here.

TWO NEW COVID-19 CASES are reported today for Hawaiʻi Island. After 11 days of no new cases, Civil Defense noted that one is "travel-related, which emphasizes the importance of exercising caution of traveling."

     Hawaiʻi Island's case count to date is 117, with two active, none hospitalized.
     One case was reported in Volcano, zip code 96785, in the last 28 days. It has been more than 28 days since a case was recorded for a Kaʻū zip code. Since the pandemic began, no one died on this island.

     Maui County reported seven new cases today. The other 198 new cases are on Oʻahu. The state's new case total is 2,448 since the pandemic began.
     Since the pandemic began, Oʻahu reported 2,083 cases, Maui County 178, and Kauaʻi 47. Twenty-three victims are residents diagnosed while visiting other places. Twenty-six people in the state died from COVID-19.

     In the daily message from Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense Director Talmadge Magno said, "Do understand that many states are continuing to experience increased numbers of Coronavirus cases, including the State of Hawaiʻi. Hawaiʻi County continues to do very well, but do know that the threat is still out there. Know the importance of continuing to follow the preventive measures of face coverings, cleanliness, keeping yourself healthy, of staying at home when sick, and special care of gatherings and distancing. Your help is so needed to keep Hawaiʻi safe. Thank you for making the effort to keep our neighbors, friends, family, and community safe. We must all do our part. As a reminder, the wearing of face masks is mandatory on the Island of Hawaiʻi. Thank you for listening and have a safe day. This is your Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense Agency."

     In the United States, more than 4,712,305 cases have been confirmed. The death toll is over 155,379. The worldwide COVID-19 case count is more than 18.18 million. The death toll is more than 691,352.

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DOH Food Safety Branch will temporarily closed down any eateries that don't adhere to COVID-19 safety rules.

COMPLY WITH COVID-19 PRECAUTIONS OR CLOSE. That's the message from Department of Health's Food Safety Branch, which will issue red placards, temporarily suspending the operations of restaurants, bars, and other eateries that don't comply with physical distancing, wearing masks, and other required guidance.

BEZ JOHANNSON, who was one of the first to build a home in Ranchos, was amazed to celebrate her 90th birthday with a small group of neighborhood friends. While a friend lured her away from her home with a bogus excuse, other friends arrived and set up a "pop up" party as a surprise for when she returned. Unflappable Johannson took the jovial ruse in her stride and was soon beaming and laughing as the festivities unfolded. She chuckled at her guests' gentle ribbing as she read cards from well-wishers. She enjoyed the special "COVID Cake," where each portion was individually cooked as a cupcake. Champagne rounded out the celebration that had taken her by surprise.

90-year-old Bez Johannson reads from a card at her surprise party.   Photo by Annie Bosted

     Johannson was born in Illinois in 1930, where she was initially raised. She attended school in the San Francisco Bay area. She worked as an operating room nurse in San Francisco at St. Joseph’s Hospital, St. Francis Hospital, Southern Pacific Hospital, UC Medical Center, and Kaiser in San Francisco. When in her forties, she married Walter Johannson, after they met at a jazz club in San Francisco. Together they went on countless jazz cruises and other jazz tours, which took them all over the world. They moved to Ocean View in 1983, where Walter built the house in Ranchos in which Bez still lives. She is best known in the Ranchos community for serving as secretary of the Hawaiian Ranchos Community Association for many years.

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