Honolulu chosen as 1 of 7 U.S. airport sites to allow China flights starting Sunday

[mahina]

https://www.staradvertiser.com/2020/02/01/hawaii-news/honolulu-chosen-as-1-of-7-u-s-airport-sites-to-allow-china-flights-starting-sunday/?HSA=b59558298fabc4e772c7ac63daafe70d25982914

The state is scrambling to prepare isolated quarantine areas for an unspecified number of additional travelers diverted here on flights from China.

In a surprise move, federal officials announced Friday that Honolulu will be one of seven airports where all flights to the U.S. from China will be funneled starting Sunday — amid growing fears over the rapid spread of the coronavirus.

The U.S. declared a public health emergency due to the outbreak in China, placing a temporary ban on foreign nationals who recently traveled to the country — other than immediate family of U.S. citizens and permanent residents. The federal government also ordered an unprecedented 14-day quarantine of those who visited Hubei province within two weeks. State officials were stunned by the emergency order by President Donald Trump to contain the deadly virus but say they are preparing to keep the local community safe. There are no suspected cases of coronavirus here, and officials say there is low concern.

“I understand people would prefer that Hawaii not have been designated, but that was a federal decision,” said Lt. Gov. Josh Green, an emergency room physician. “It was a sudden flurry of decisions from D.C. that set in motion the additional need to plan for quarantines. That’s what caught everyone off guard. We’re not expecting to have a large number of cases. We’re expecting less traffic, unless there’s a sudden emergency. Hopefully we’ll have none, but we are ready to screen anybody as necessary.”

“This is playing Russian Roulette with our economy, and we don’t deserve to be put on this list,” Ward said, adding that he will ask Gov. David Ige and the White House to remove Honolulu from the list of designated airports, which include New York, Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle.

[mahina]

1. New York, Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle.

Anybody else see a pattern there?
Just me?

[essaynnc]

2. Punishment???

I have a better idea, put them in cages in a cornfield in the middle of Kansas! Just kidding.

I guess i appreciate that someone smarter than tRumpf came up with a plan, but I'm with you, Why all the blue states? Whatever happened to State's rights? Don't they get a say?

[RealityChik]

3. I get it that states were chosen where the adults are in charge, but...

Aloha, all. Kamaaina expat here, now living Seattle...

Still...the choices are unnerving. I love what Jay Inslee has done for our state in this crisis, and kudos to airports that disinfect 24/7, but if arriving passengers are not being screened let alone tested, these designated states will remain vulnerable beyond their control.

Hawaii is too small to bear that much burden for our nation! Heck I remember a mumps outbreak in the late 1960s that laid everyone, even way out in our Windward Oahu neighborhood, flat out for weeks, even the adults. But nobody died from it. Imagine what damage COVID-19 could do if it spread as quickly as that mumps outbreak did?

I've got a Sacred Hearts Academy HS pal coming in from overseas this week, but because my husband is in the extremely high risk group, she's having to divert to another HI expat's house (Damien HS grad) this trip. Cuz of the husband's risk, I no like chance 'um!

[mahina]

4. Aloha sister.

Hope you and your husband and all stay well.

It is for sure too much to ask of tiny Hawaii.

I remember that mumps outbreak too! Had dear friends that went to Sacred Hearts. Kaulana and Mohala Wong?

Anyway hey I put some beautiful Hawaiian music up here from Weldon Kekauoha and Josh Tatofi and the Makaha Sons. Make you feel better today, I hope
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10472078

Hui hou, malama pono