Unvaccinated allow virus to keep spreading

I fear that Paul Wong conflates free will with choice (“Blame source of virus, not the unvaccinated,” Star- Advertiser, Letters, July 31).

In America we are not subject to communist ways because we are a republic, a different political system from other countries.

Actually, by choosing to live in a lawfully governed society, we do a lot of things routinely that we might not choose to do on our own: earning our keep, using turn signals, leashing our dogs, using our seat belts, standing in lines, paying our bills.

Regardless of where the coronavirus started, the current upsurge is being spread primarily by unvaccinated people. Their choice impacts all of us healthiest, socially and economically.

The blame seems where it belongs.

Andrea W. Bell

Kailua

Haiku Stairs has impact on nearby community

In response to recent various articles and editorials published regarding the desire to reopen the Haiku Stairs: The point that they all missed is the impact on the community.

For more than 20 years, nothing was done to help mitigate the impact on the surrounding community. As Bill Hicks stated, we suffered without “City Council leadership” (“City Council should save Haiku Stairs,” Star-Advertiser, Letters, Aug. 1).

Now we have leadership ready and willing to make hard decisions. We have support from the Honolulu Police Department. It’s time for the city to make decisions that benefit residents, not tourists.

Let’s move forward and make this hard decision to remove the Haiku Stairs, a decision long overdue. As Council member Calvin Say said, “Fish or cut bait.” Let’s cut bait and move on. The City Council has other fish to fry.

Rae Leong

Kaneohe

Expand testing to cut spread of COVID-19

With the dramatic increase in COVID-19 cases, would it not make sense to bring back testing stations (not the rapid test) so anyone with the slightest amount of symptoms can get tested? This may cut down on the spread of the disease since there would be a waiting period of isolation to see if a person tests positive.

Ken Takeya

Kailua

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