Governor Silvestri 2020-04-07

Summary of Facebook Live Chat by Governor Silvestri at 2020-04-07 15:50

The is a transcript of the English transmission. There is also a Spanish transmission which I do not translate.

Note that it’s been re-ordered and some repetition collapsed.

Donations

Fundraising:

• Current total: USD 120,716; HNL 2,987,986
• https://themakeitcountfoundation.org/
• 3 purposes:
  • Food
  • Medical Equipment
  • Medicine
• Currently fundraising and working out how best to use the funds
• Expect it to be a long term problem, at least 60 days, so planning to spread it out.

Utila fundraising:

• http://www.SupportUtila.org

Food distribution:

• If your community hasn’t got food, please let the governors team know and they’ll work out how to get you help.
• Have to prove that you’re in this situation due to the loss of tourism
• USD 9,000 in food was distributed recently

Curfew

Reminder: It only takes one case to wipe out an island.

Lifting Curfew:

• Currently scheduled to lift on the 12th of April. This could change
• Trying to get exceptions for the Bay Islands, but it’s difficult

COVID-19

It only takes one positive person on an island to create a problem

Test results:

• 23 negative
• 2 pending

Protocol for those suspected of having COVID-19:

• They are screened and then tested depending on the screening questions.
  • Tests are sent to Tegucigalpa to process, which takes time.
  • Usually freighted by the air force, otherwise the mayor flies them, but both are very busy, so sometimes there’s some delay
• New lab in San Pedro Sula, which is cheaper and closer for analysing the longer tests

Rapid response test kits:

• Large number were donated to Honduras yesterday
  • Looking at ways to get more tests with the donations raised
• These are critical to the islands
• New tests are made in Korea, which is a leader in testing and managing COVID-19. Rapid tests to everyone that’s suspected.
  • If positive, then don’t have to test further
  • If negative, will run the longer test
• The new tests and protocols will make it easier for us to provide a way to allow people back into the islands
• USA has prohibited any medical equipment from leaving the country as it’s the highest number of cases in the world

Bringing people back:

• All our sacrifices will be in vein if we allow anyone with COVID-19 onto the islands. So, please have patience while we get the protocols sorted and acquire test kits.
• Once we have the rapid response kits and the protocols, we’ll be able to work out a way to bring people back.

Travel

Utila:

• Lots of reports of people trying to come in both illegally and with the blessings of the authorities.
• A discussion on Utila about letting people onto the islands from La Ceiba.
  • Governor is waiting to hear from the mayor
  • Rapid response test kits important for this case.

Returning people:

• No word yet on when people will be able to return
• Anyone with a primary residency, not just citizens, will be covered once we start to repatriate people

General

Volunteer profile:

• Miss Syntia Solomon

Medical emergencies:

• Difficult for Roatan to take people, there’s no orthopaedic doctor so broken bones can’t be taken in.
• Once people go to the mainland they have to stay there.
• Would need to put people in

Diving:

• Port captain says people can’t dive in own boats.
  • Broadcasting of “let’s go diving” is problematic.
  • If you want to go diving, put a document together and present it to the port authority on Monday, Wednesday or Friday for their permission.
• Fishing has an exception for humanitarian reasons.

Fishing:

• Line permitted, spear is not. Please be careful of the species you target.

2 Boats near Palmeto:

• Fishing boats. Marine park came out and chatted with them.
• Please keep reporting when you see suspicious boats.

RECO meeting tomorrow

Business taxes:

• You shouldn’t have sales taxes if you haven’t had sales
• President mentioned that income taxes will be delayed, waiting to hear details

Board of education:

• Meeting with them tomorrow

Food boats:

• Still regularly arriving from USA, La Ceiba and Port of Cortez
• Being inspected and sprayed down before delivering food
• Bigger concern is people being able to buy food, not getting it to the islands
• Utila: Lots of boats (three) to provide food, shouldn’t be a concern. Please send photos to the governor is places are empty and we need help getting food into the island.
  • If there are other logistical problems, please let the governor know so they can help out.

Abbot Labs Test:

• Have been talking with them via Rotary
• Going to be difficult to get because of export controls from the USA

Antimalarial:

• Have excellent stocks. No concern there.

Banks:

• Will be open for good Friday because of the crisis