Masks in schools
I read an interesting news article (March 30) that really highlights the ongoing confusion between the state Department of Education and the state Department of Health regarding indoor masks.
I have talked to both agencies extensively in my quest to get indoor masking dropped for schools, and it is a case of no one wanting to accept responsibility for this masking requirement.
When talking to the DOE on the phone, they said the DOH is “strongly recommending” universal masking or else schools will have to do contact tracing and quarantining for all positive cases, and leadership choose universal masking. According to the article, Brooks Baehr from DOH said “DOH is not mandating indoor masking,” he said via email (on March 28). “DOH is making recommendations and issuing guidance. DOH is not establishing policy for schools.”
Do you see the issue here? Each side is saying the other one is making the requirement for indoor masking. No one is taking responsibility for this requirement.
Both sides are incorrect and not following the federal guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention where it states that “Today (25 Feb), we’re also updating our recommendations for schools. Since July, 2021, CDC recommended universal masking in schools, no matter what level of impact COVID 19 was having on the community. With this update, CDC will now only recommend universal school masking in communities at the high level.”
Obviously, all of Hawaii is in the green/low category, and according to the CDC, no schools should be requiring indoor masking.
While the DOH, DOE, mayors, and the governor play the blame game and refuse to take responsibility for the school indoor masking requirement, our children continue to be the only ones in this state, and the entire country, that are being forced to wear masks indoors at school.
I am requesting that someone in the DOH or DOE make the right decision, follow the CDC guidance, and make indoor masking optional for all Hawaii schools as soon as possible.
Ryan Hutton
Mililani, Oahu
Lack of pride?
Have the wonderful people of the Big Island no pride in this beautiful Island ? Why are junk cars allowed to stay along the sides of the roads and on private property?
Ocean View Estates has got to be the junk car capital of America. Why are people allowed to wreck the natural beauty of that area?
There needs to be laws put on the books ending the storage of junk cars. Huge fines should be accessed for those who illegally dump cars on other people’s property and on the sides of the roads.
The county needs to establish a five-acre storage lot somewhere out of public sight to place all junk cars from the Big Island. Turn junk cars into recyclable material and sell it to recover some of the costs of operating the lot.
The mayor should announce a Big Island cleanup month to get rid of these junk cars spread across the island. It’s time for everyone to come together and show some community pride and get rid of all these junk cars that litter the island, making it look like a junk yard.
Richard Rhyner
Anchorage, Alaska
