By way of introduction we are three weeks to the day from a long planned trip to Kauai. That is my happy place. We’ve traveled there for over 20 years. We were on the fence about traveling as we are both well over 60 with some health problems. But, Kauai had no known coronavirus infections, until this came out today:
The two individuals — an adult male and a female — traveled from the mainland on a direct flight to Maui arriving on March 2 on United Airlines. They stayed at a hotel in Lahaina from March 2 through March 8. Shortly after arrival, case A developed a fever, cough and shortness of breath. On March 4, case A was seen at an urgent care facility and given rapid flu tests that tested negative. And on that same day case B started feeling ill. On March 7, case B was seen at an urgent care facility. On March 8, both flew on Hawaiian Airlines flight 149 to Kauai. From March 9 through the 13th, they stayed on Kauai. On March 9, case A was seen at an urgent care facility and prescribed antibiotics. On March 12, case A was seen at Wilcox Memorial Hospital and at that setting they informed the healthcare professionals they had close contact with an individual that was COVID-19 positive.”
So, these folks knew they were at risk with a known exposure. Flew at least 5 hours exposing those passengers on the United flight. Exposed multiple other people on Maui and never told the health care people they contacted there about their exposure. Then they flew to Kauai exposing those passengers on Hawaiian Air and all the people they contacted at the Marriott and wherever else they went. Finally at the small hospital on Kauai there they fessed up to their exposure and were tested. Kauai is really a small island and I suspect this will result in many cases; I hope I’m wrong. But, we are cancelling our trip. The behavior by this couple borders on criminal and is the antithesis of what people with coronavirus or an exposure to same should do. Shame on them.