One New Molokai Case Last Week
Graph courtesy of County of Maui
By Catherine Cluett Pactol
Molokai logged one new COVID-19 case last Wednesday, Sept. 23, bringing the island’s total case count to 17.
Despite requests to break down the island’s total and active cases, the Dept. of Health has not yet begun providing that information so it remains unclear how many of Molokai’s cases are active.
Last week, Gov. David Ige signed a proclamation extending the COVID-19 emergency period through Oct. 31, leaving in place the 14-day mandatory quarantine requirement for both out of state and interisland travelers. However, beginning Oct. 15, a pre-travel testing option will allow out of state travelers an alternative to the mandatory 14-day quarantine by providing a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours prior to travel to Hawaii.
“Our response to COVID-19 has always been driven by the need to protect the safety of our residents and community. The pre-travel testing program allows us to do this while welcoming more people to our state. The increased economic activity will help strengthen our communities,” said Ige.
The inter-island quarantine for travelers arriving in all counties except Honolulu County remains in place. However, the proclamation empowers the counties to adopt a negative test exception process for travelers subject to the inter-island travel quarantine, according to state officials.
The Governor has also extended the moratorium on evictions for renters unable to pay rent through the end of October. Renters who are having financial difficulty paying rent are strongly encouraged to seek help by applying for the State’s Rent Relief and Housing Assistance Program, by visiting hihousinghelp.com. Renters can also apply for assistance through the
County’s HELP Program through MEO, by visiting meoinc.org or the MEO office in Kaunakakai.
1 Comment
I think it’s only fair you report the inter-island quarantine does not apply to Molokai if the travelers plan to stay at Molokai Shores in Kaunakakai, where they are not quarantined but are free to go and come as they please. Apparently, it was decided that, in spite of the danger of spreading the virus, and in spite of the fact all VBRO licenses were permanently revoked months ago, a loophole could be provided and no one would be the wiser for it. Granted, the visitors do not come at the rate they did prior to the pandemic, but they still trickle in on a weekly basis, prompting several of us to find out why.
Between the lack of current COVID-19 information the residents on Molokai receive, the absence of a concrete plan in the event of an outbreak, and the blatant lies we are told, it has become increasingly clear the powers that be have little regard for the people of this island. It feels as though we are nothing more than an afterthought; something that must be contended with but, for the most part, can be safely ignored.