Farce Redux

Airport Madness

The mayor of Honolulu has, with the governor’s approval, extended the “lockdown” and associated mandates until July 31st. That’s just a day before the floodgates of tourism are flung wide open. The mayor justified the move by stating that he is making Hawai’i safe for the sacred tourists. In reality, social control is the goal (i.e., keep the unemployed off the streets).

The mayor is also working on an amendment to the original “state of emergency” in order to require full-time face mask usage. Of course, this measure is really to prepare for the thousands of tourists arriving on August 1st. As discussed in Notes, the incoming screening process for “super-duper corona” is a farce. The foolhardy safeguards to insure compliance with the 14-day quarantine have also been detailed in Notes. Every single one of them, including the one-time use hotel room key, can easily be defeated or outsmarted by even the most dimwitted of tourists. And, frankly, who exactly is going to stop several hundred people exiting a hotel and breaking quarantine?

Businesses are eagerly awaiting the arrival of tourists, but there is one hindrance to profitability. Restaurants, retail stores, and fast food joints require volume business. “Social distancing” is the big hurdle. Business venues are expected to aggressively lobby for the elimination of the mandate. So, by the middle of August, “social distancing” will be “history.” As discussed in Notes ad infinitum, fabric face masks are useless even with “social distancing.” A minimum of N95 face masks and protective medical goggles will be necessary when in close contact with the public.

“Social distancing” is already being eliminated on airlines. It won’t (or can’t) be enforced here on public transportation, tour buses, taxis, and ride-sharing. So, the possibility of a rapid spread of “super-duper corona” is high, beginning on airline flights bound for Hawai’i.

Currently, there has been an increase in the infection count, ranging between 6 and 25 new cases reported per day. Since “super-duper corona” does not spontaneously spawn here, it must be imported by the only way in ... airlines. There are about 400 tourists and 100 returning residents arriving daily now. Imagine what the infection count will be like once 10,000 people begin arriving daily (most likely realized during the second week of August). There are one million people on the island of O’ahu alone, all without any immunity to “super-duper corona.”

Addendum: From what can be ascertained, passengers on docked cruise ships are still not allowed to disembark. That is subject to change at any time. And, visitors staying in independent vacation rentals will be able to skirt the quarantine easily.

Update: The mayor announced the amendment to the “state of emergency,” but full-time use of face masks is not yet required. Face masks must be worn full-time indoors, including a person working alone in an office. Presumably face masks are required in a personal residences as well. Face masks must be worn outdoors if “social distancing” is impossible.