Last Friday, Maui County reported seven new cases of COVID-19, one of our highest numbers aside from the outbreak on Lanai and at clusters at the hospital and Roselani.

Statewide, the numbers have also been going up since the onset of the new visitor regulations went into effect on Oct. 15. In the first 14 days of October, Maui had 853 visitors arriving by air. In addition, there were 305 passengers that listed themselves as intended residents and 1,138 others that included airline crew, essential and government workers, military, and students. Also arriving by air during that period were 1,268 returning residents.

Since opening our island, more passengers have been arriving. From Oct. 15-31, Maui has welcomed 20,947 vacationing visitors along with 889 intended residents and 4,395 others for a total for the whole month of 34,051. Prior to opening up, Maui averaged 61 visitors a day in the beginning of October compared to 1,310 visitors daily since Oct. 15th. The first five days of November has seen a daily average of 1,293.

What isn’t quantifiable is the number of visitors/residents that have not been tested with negative results and have to isolate themselves for the required 14 days. How many of them are there? Who is monitoring them? How many are in violation, but are not apprehended?

As the pandemic is spiking across the country with infection rates in California and the Pacific Northwest contributing to the over 121,000 countrywide daily cases today, is this the right time to be allowing more visitors to come to our state?

Muffy Gushi

Waikapu