Kauai has just returned to the CDCs highest threat level for Covid infections. Its being recommended that masks be worn indoors on the island, among other measures. Kauai is the only Hawaiian Island to be so warned. The rest of the state is in moderate Covid risk assessment by the CDC. All of the islands went from low to moderate levels just last month, and now this.
The director of the DOH said today they believe the actual case count is 5+ times higher than what is being reported. And based on what we are hearing here on the ground, that may be an understatement.
Today’s news came as case counts on Kauai have soared higher than the rest of the state, to 20%. This is something your editors take very personally since we both live here.
For further anecdotal testimony, we have heard of far more people on Kauai who are sick with COVID in the past couple of weeks, than since the outbreak first began more than two years ago. That’s been true among both children and adults who we know. Frankly, it’s become shocking, and while they aren’t dying to our knowledge, they are getting very sick. As one friend told us last week, “you don’t want to get this.”
There are three key metrics resulted in the increased Kauai warnings.
Those include new infections, hospital admissions over the past week, and the percentage of hospital beds used by Covid patients. At the same time, Kauai doesn’t plan to implement any restrictions at this time.
As for us, we have seen that more and more people are wearing masks indoors.
We aren’t heading into tight indoor spaces without N95 masks ourselves, as much as we would like to throw them away for good. The CDC suggests masks be worn both indoors and on any public transportation (think shuttle buses, for example), without regard to vaccination status. Also suggested for those at high risk are both social distancing and noting and avoiding poorly ventilated areas.
While the case count over the week ended this Wednesday was 391 here, most of the people we know who have or just had Covid reported to us that they used only at-home tests to confirm the infection, and thus aren’t being counted.
Rod W. That is the most intelligent, comment I have read yet. To the point, taking everyone’s health decision into consideration and not at all combative. Thank you for being the voice of reason!
Thanks Ed.
Wish I knew which post that was so I can frame it – HaHaHa.
Take care,
Rod
I hate to tell you this, Katie, but I am working online with the Mainland 5 days a week and nobody wants to work! What we need is to stop paying people to stay home. We used to tell our clients that the plants are closed due to COVID-19, then we had a meeting and management told us those workers have just chosen not to return because they are getting paid anyway. Maybe the recent decisions to stop deadbeat pay will get more workers back!
As many have written, COVID is serious.
Unfortunately, the govt can’t seem to find a real cure, so they change their mandates (none now) and we have to keep obeying flawed rules.
Different reactions from different folks – those in severe fear think the government has the answers. Those with a calmer approach seem more willing to take chances. Both are right, so let’s not demonize each other on this. That’s what govt really wants – us at each other’s throats so they can gain more power. In my home 2 have taken the vacs and 2 have not – no one is sick.
Look, we lose 15,000- 60,000 every year from the flu. Why, all of a sudden all these rules for COVID, but not the flu?
Because we’ve lost 1 million people to COVID already, that’s about 1/2 million per year. That make the flu like like a bad cold.. Fortunately, now, with the vaccine, boosters, and some new treatments, COVID is not as deadly as it once was for most people. The problem is that there are some people who can’t get the vaccine, or who have co-morbilities that make them vulnerable to getting very sick and/or dying. Thus, we need to work on trying to reduce/eliminate this disease, just like we did with things like small pox, etc. or people will continue to die in unacceptable numbers.
That number is not accurate as confirmed by the CDC. There were over 1,000,000 people who have died while “infected” with Covid, which is correct. However, many of those deaths were for other reasons and not necessarily the result of Covid. I think nobody will ever know the “true” death count from Covid. In some Countries it is much higher than reported and others much lower than reported.
So, you’re saying that if I get into a car accident, but die from a heart attack due to the loss of blood, that the car accident wasn’t the cause of death? It’s the same here. People with co-morbities get infected by COVID, which makes that decease worse, and they die from it so it’s not COVID’s “fault” when chances are they would be alive today if the hadn’t contracted COVID?
So, this is the problem right now with people in this country. Instead of just listening to the experts who have years and years of education and experience in the field, we “do our own research” and draw our own conclusions which are often just plain wrong because we oversimplify things or misunderstand, etc. The CDC say nearly 1 million, so I’ll go with that.
Joerg,
“People with co-morbities get infected by COVID, which makes that decease worse, and they die from it so it’s not COVID’s “fault” when chances are they would be alive today if the hadn’t contracted COVID?”
That’s the question a lot of people are wondering – in comorbidity situations is too much “blame” being placed on COVID? Is it just too easy to say write “COVID” on the death certificate?
Well, I think that there’s little doubt that COVID makes those underlying health conditions worse. For example, if you have diabetes you are more likely to be hospitalized and/or die if you catch COVID according to any number of studies. So, if you die, was it the COVID that killed you, or the diabetes? The COVID, obviously.
But in the end, it’s not the virus itself that kills you anyway. It’s your body’s reaction to that virus. Specifically, it’s the pneumonia that ends up putting you on the respirator and, possibly ends up killing you. In fact, any underlying condition that would make you more susceptible to pneumonia means that if you catch COVID you’re more likely to suffer from severe complications or death.
Joerg,
“So, if you die, was it the COVID that killed you, or the diabetes? The COVID, obviously.”
Not so fast. I have diabetes and do the best I can with it. Diabetes is slowly killing me. Along comes COVID which “encourages” my death. I’d say diabetes killed me while the COVID merely helped it along.
Rod is correct! Hospitals get paid COVID bonuses that average $30,000 + for each reported case of COVID. That is why hospitals really test every patient for COVID regardless of the reason they came in the hospital. It’s about Money folks.
People like Joerg H. will always attempt to guide the conversation towards their line of thought. He has a right to his opinion but he has no right to be wrong in his facts. He blames covid and not any of the secondary ailments for killing people. Remdesivir given to patients in Hospitals is accountable for most all of the Respiratory deaths in Hospitals. Check out Dr. Robert Malones video “Watch the Water”. It explains all you need to know. Remdesivir kills vital organs in the body and they knew this! But as you said, it is all about the money!
Plenty of reasons to be skeptical of Robert Malones, he isn’t what he claims to be…this quote from the New York Times sum’s him up well as well as the reality of what many of the misinformationists do….
“Robert Malone is exploiting the fact that data-driven course correction is inherent to the scientific process to peddle disinformation,” Dr. Rasmussen said. “It’s extraordinarily dishonest and morally bankrupt.”
I would wager $100.00 you didn’t watch the video then. You have tunnel vision and the only thing you see at the end of the tunnel is “covid”! I have watched many videos and have read many articles both Pro and con, on covid. I have made my decisions based on that information. Because both sides of the debate are the “extreme” opposite of each other, you have to weigh the reasoning presenting (because it is way too soon to say anything is factual yet) and make your own decision based on common sense. You and I are on the opposite side of this topic and will never agree on anything. So, enjoy life John and I hope you stay safe doing whatever it is you are doing. Mahalo
What is so sad is the Doctors and Nurses who were on the front lines treating Covid patients are true heroes. The hours they worked and the risks they took as well as the fact that many died in the prevaccine days should earn them nothing but respect. Yet the conspiracy theorists feel they are fair game to make unfounded claims about them. Honesty, integrity and respect sure seems to be a thing of the past and yes, it’s all about the money, people will say anything if they think it’s to their advantage.
When people bring up the money make sure you look at the anti vax people making a lot of money peddling unproven vax “alternatives” Frontline Doctors are not the only ones getting rich , most of them seem profit driven. On the other hand, CDC, WHO etc are staffed by highly qualified people that actually do research for a living and their paycheck is not effected by what they discover or say.. There is no denying a healthy lifestyle helps protect you from Covid, nor can you deny the vaccine can save your life. People are getting rich trying to deny otherwise.
John, you have gone off the deep end. You, or anyone else can prove to me that the shots (they are not vaccines) is capable of saving anyone’s life!
Geez Ed, I didn’t know you were that deep in the Rabbit Hole, you’ve really buried yourself in misinformation if you can’t even acknowledge that vaccinated people are far less likely to die from Covid then unvaccinated ones. Do you really think that any credible organization from The Mayo Clinic to the Swiss Medical Center and everyone in between is wrong? That throughout the world all the leading Doctors are mistaken? That there is some kind of secret pact they are all keeping against us to stifle the truth? Really??
We are all free to chose but it’s unconscionable to try and convince others that that the vaccines are not safe and people shouldn’t take them. People have died from misinformation, I know first hand.
Hey Ed! Love your independent thinking and sense of humor! You and I are very similar so I think you probably like the comedian Ron White. Have you ever seen his YouTube video “you can’t fix stupid “? Watch it! It is so funny and so true!
John, I am not attempting to convince anyone to do anything. We are all adults and are totally capable of making our own decisions. But for you to say that the shot is safe is “unconscionable”. There was absolutely no “extensive testing” done prior to releasing them to the public. Therefore, you can not possibly, by any stretch of the imagination, know what the long term effects of these shots are going to be! You talk as if it is already a foregone conclusion of what the future holds. It isn’t! And you do not have a clue either. Neither do all of these so-called “expert” organizations that you like to mention. Once again John, you do as you wish and everyone else will do as they wish! Does that simplify my stance for you?
I have noticed whenever someone says “I did the research “ they generally come up with some perspective that they think counters the people who actually do research for a living and have the experience, education and data available to them. The people that do it via google should be aware that their search history contributes to information bias….they get fed links that confirm what google thinks they are looking for. There is some very elaborate misinformation stories out there that can fool people hungry for a good conspiracy. Mayo Clinic is not putting out false information and they know what they are doing.
What’s interesting is that there are many Fact checkers,, depending on your view, you will choose the one that you like better, even tho it’s not true
It’s called Critical Thinking and it is greatly missing in the world today. Unfortunately, most people just believe most everything they read or see on tv instead of collecting all the info and coming to their own Conclusion. Most studies and white papers are semi-marketing documents slanted to the funding organization or to a specific agenda. Everyone in healthcare knows this.
No, what I am saying is that anyone who dies of a heart attack while driving a car and then gets in a car accident, they did not die because of the car accident they died because of the heart attack.
But that’s not what is happening here, Greg. Liberal states Surgeons General ordered hospitals to assign cause of death as COVID just because a car accident victim tested positive for COVID-19… Now that’s misinformation on a grand scale!
Joerg,
I offer this question as someone who thinks vaccines are beneficial and as one who has taken the 2 “full” set of shots and the 1st booster. Plan to take the 2nd.
But, isn’t this COVID virus losing its power over time, over cycles – having nothing to do with vaccines and masks, etc?
And is there any real proof rather than circumstantial evidence that the vaccines keep folks from getting COVID? In my home, 2 have at least the first two vaccinations and 2 will not take the shots. Two with the shots mid to late 70s and the other two are in their mid-50s. No one got COVID!!!
No need to minimize the flu-it’s a serious issue. As I wrote, 15000- 60000 USA deaths per year from the flu (I get flu shots every year, my wife never has/will).
Yes, there is real proof. They do actually test these vaccines before offering them to the general public.
Why is this so hard for so many to understand? Health research is exhaustive but the idea of research is simple.
PEGM, how can you actually “test” a vaccine in just a matter of months? This was rolled out without any concrete facts, or tests, that would prove that there will be no, or minimal, side effects from these shots! So no, PEGM, it was not “tested” in the original context of testing! Prove that wrong!
Rod W. That is the most intelligent, comment I have read yet. To the point, taking everyone’s health decision into consideration and not at all combative. Thank you for being the voice of reason! We could use a whole lot more people like you on here. Mahalo!
My husband and are both vaccinated and have had two boosters. We went to the Kaua’i Beach Resort May 5 to hear Jeff Peterson. We both wore N 95 masks but many of the people in the audience were not wearing mass. It was the only activity we had done in five days. Three days after the performance we both tested positive for Covid. We have had mild cases due to our protection from the vaccination but obviously it is very contagious. It shouldn’t be treated like we’re back to normal because we’re not.
Now wait a minute? You are both vaccinated, you have both had 2 booster shots and You both wore N95 masks. So tell me again why you got the shots and wear masks? I guess because they prevent you from getting Covid from others? Because they definitely didn’t work in your cases! But maybe the next 2 or 3 boosters will do the trick for you guys! Make sure you get them!
Ed D,
People believe if you get the shots and wear a mask and DON’T get COVID, those precautions worked.
Now, I got the shots and the first booster because I get the flu shot every year (oh, the flu kills 15,000 – 60,000 Americans every year – where’s the outrage). My wife got the 2 shots and only to make our annual visit to Hawaii problem free.
Our son and his wife live with us, they are in their mid 50’s and will not get the shots. So far, no COVID. I wonder why.
Keep skepticism alive!
Rod W.,
I am happy to hear that none of you have gotten Covid. Who can be 100% sure why none of you did. You and the wife felt it was in your best interest for whatever reason you had, to get the shot. That is a good thing. You made up your mind and you did what you felt you needed to do.
Your son and his wife decided not to get the shot. They decided what their best interest was as well. Good for them too.
The people I have a problem with are those that discount everyone else choices and think they know everything about this. People like John and Joerg H. Personally, I could care less if they got the shot. That is their decision to make and they made it.
(Continued Below)
Rod W.,
(cont. from above) But I will be darned if I am going to allow people like these two to get on their soap Box and tell the rest of us how inept we are for not choosing to take the shot. Your last comment made loads of sense and I can relate to your words. Thanks for looking at both sides of the issue!
Here is the problem with that. If getting the shot were just about You, I would agree with you 100%. Make your own decision, take your own chances, I’m good with that. However, it’s NOT just about You, it’s about everyone around you, in your family, your neighborhood, you state, your country, and the world. The only way we can get a handle on this virus is via vaccination. The more people that get vaccinated, the more of a handle we have on things, and the fewer people catch it and possibly get very ill or die.
Actually Ed I have no problem with anyones personal choice, I’ve been on my “soapbox” simply countering the rampant misinformation that surrounds so much of the anti vax perspective. When people say things that are not true about the medical profession or try and say the vaccines haven’t saved lives I’ll gladly point out that false narrative.
Don’t put too much into peoples posts or take it personally, if we ever met in person I’m confident we would not be adversarial at all and would find more in common then a few blog posts would indicate.
Aloha and best to you.
John, we may have more in common then these posts would let on but we will never agree on the shot. It is not a vaccine and I will ask you also to point out one ingredient in them that would make them a vaccine? Once again, I will be waiting because you can’t scientifically do that! All you can say is that they make people less sick when they catch it. That is not what a vaccine does. A vaccine prevents one from contracting the virus it is intended to ward off!
Ed,
Just look at the thumbs up and thumbs down. What did you post to get even a single thumbs down!
John,
So true.
One of my best buddies is a confirmed socialist and I’m very conservative. But, we’ve been buds since 1967 and we are not dropping that friendship over some political differences. As you wrote, Dave and I have much in common.
When I have a project overseas, Dave tries to make it and we share a room. We promise not to talk politics, but eventually get there and find much in common. We’re not looking for ways to put each other down. Rather, listen, discuss, learn.
Good on you Rod…..I’ve got good friends from both sides of the isle. It used to be a healthy mix of the right and left was often what moved us forward…sadly that seems to be a thing of the past
John, Best to keep it that way. Don’t let the nutcases cause us to lose good friends.
You are both so right. The problem is extremism and it got particularly bad when Trump was elected. For most of my life I remember healthy discussions on opposing points of view but all of a sudden it became “I can’t see or talk to you anymore” even amoung family members. Sad thing is they stick to their bogus beliefs that distancing someone is okay. Come back home to your HP!
Btw I do believe in healthy skepticism and rarely wear a mask anymore. It’s just that skepticism has taken such an unhealthy turn lately and been weaponized by some that I think is sad. I’m actually a big proponent of alternative medicine working with western medicine, but as I said, that perspective has been turned on it’s head of late.
Ed,
I’m at the dentist office right now. Big sign Face Mask Required.
I’m the only one with a mask.
More later.
Ed,
It’s okay to try to convince people that you are right. But, too often, they do that by attempting to make you feel their way is the only “scientific” way and you are stupid if you can’t follow.
And, now that we are into year 3 of this killer, I don’t hear enough voices mentioning “herd immunity.” That’s a real thing, but some just want everyone to follow the mob.
I always get shots so it’s no big deal. My wife hasn’t had a shot in about 66 years. She only got the shots to avoid any difficulty going to and coming from Hawaii.
Keep skepticism alive!
Rod, people also believe if they had Covid and it was mild then the it can’t be as bad as the statistics indicate… soooo , who do you believe, the people with the actual data or anecdotal stories? It’s a very complex issue, none of has the answers..
Especially the CDC and WHO. Both seem very political.
Hello Rod W. If you think about it, if the normal annual Flu kills 15,000 to 60,000 people a year, why hasn’t our Government made the annual Flu shot a necessity? But yet they are shoving this untested shot on us, as if it were the end of the Earth. Makes you wonder, doesn’t it?
Did you read were she said the symptoms were mild. That’s what the vaccine does, it does helps to actually prevent Covid or if you get it, it’s extremely successful at preventing hospitalization or death. Why is that concept even argued?
I think there may be something missing from their story.
It strains credulity just a little when 2 people, closely linked take all those precautions and come down, at the same time, with the virus they are supposed to have protection against.
What else did they do and where during those 3 or even 4 or 5 days? Were they exposed when not so well protected? Or is their recollection of all those protections faulty?
Come on, try to understand the vaccines. They do, indeed, very much lessen the chance that you will get covid, the numbers are there. However, if you do get covid it greatly lessens the chance that you will be admitted to a hospital and die.
Millions upon millions of people worldwide just really don’t want to die right now. Suit yourself.
I got Covid, whole house did. No vax and had a headache and fatigue for a few days. Lost taste and smell and that’s it. My 70 year old mother in law and 80 year old father in law were with us and didn’t get it (they had Covid months before, no vax, very mild symptoms). Vaccine or not, basic science is that it will depend on your health. If you have comorbitities you should be careful and choose wisely. But if you are healthy, then you could have mild symptoms like the 7 of us in one house (and all of my other friends as well…mild symptoms). And we still have antibodies, been exposed weekly to Covid (we get the emails) and haven’t had it since! Going on a year now! Follow the money and use critical thinking.
🙄
Okay, here it is:
cdc.gov/nchs/data/health_policy/covid19-comorbidity-expanded-12092020-508.pdf
Basically only 6% of deaths were COVID alone, while 94% had 2.9 or more other existing conditions.
To sum it up, as has been said, if you have a condition your doctor thinks is that severe (you’re in the 96% comorbidity group), buy an N-95 mask NOW and be very safe.
If you’re Not in that group, please stop the panic peddling. Aloha!
Well with the obesity problem in the US I’d say that about half of the population has that co-morbidity alone.
My family and I went to Maui from the 15th of April to the 19th. We stayed with my sister in law in Makawao. We still wore masks while out shopping, going to restaurants and walking around Lahaina. We didn’t take any chances, and hoped that we didn’t get exposed during the flight over. Covid is something that should be taken seriously. Thanks BOH
Hi Reg.
We hope you had a great time in upcountry Maui!
Aloha.
I loved it!! My sister-in-law took us on the Pacific Whale boat to see the whales. We saw several coming to the surface. It was awe inspiring. We couldn’t visit her two years ago, when my brother passed away; at least he got to move to Maui and enjoy his last days in paradise.. We hope to visit again, and I’m hoping in three years, that I will be able to move to Oahu. I miss the Aloha spirit; that’s what I grew up with; to respect others; the land and the environment. It’s becoming a missing aspect of life here on the mainland; especially in California. I have several skills; work and otherwise, that I’d like to contribute to Hawaii, to “give back”, if possible.