44 new cases of cov19 is quite a few for the small island of beautiful Maui. The virus is everyplace. All you can do is stay home, and if going out wear as much protection as you can.
The mainland California is loaded with the virus. Almost 10,000 cases just in Los Angeles.
County.
Maui and the other Hawaiian Islands are a tourist meca during spring, and summer time, just think how high it would be if the tourist bring more cov19 into the area.
Take care

Hi, @ Pollyanne, I remember so fondly my visits to your lovely, enticing islands.

I don't think it is the lack of training in how to wear the masks but rather the severe lack of appropriate gear available. My heart goes out to all of the hospital employees and first responders who are continuing to go to work each day bravely confronting this invisible, so easily spread virus without the appropriate and much overused protective gear. Daily reports from all over the country site that these valiant warriors are having to reuse gear for too many days. They report the dire need for more and yet they risk their lives daily and those of their loved ones to save others. Many of the masks are for one time use and both they and the N1? that are available are being worn throughout the day and are very uncomfortable.

I have been writing to my state and federal legislators begging them to up the quantity and distribution of the desperately needed gear for those risking their lives for the rest of us. They may not respond or heed my requests but it is one tiny effort I and others can make to be heard. Only our top elected leadership can garner the help and production needed to meet this growing and spreading demand. This is not a political situation; this is a life endangering situation for us all.

And yes, the number of cases in my less populated area is growing exponentially day-by-day. And yet there are Americans failing to heed the recommendations of the infectious health experts by continuing to go out and congregate in groups. Do they think they are immune?

@pollyanne That is a lot of new cases. The local online newsletter publishes a map with all of the cities and towns in NH, and indicates the range of the number of cases in each by color. I was startled to see that our town, which has about 20,000 people now I think, is in the 20 - 49 range. We just got upped to that range so I presume we are at the lower end of it, but still, it is alarming. I always feel so safe here in our little enclave but now I have even more reason to avoid the grocery store.

Regarding cost of living on Maui, I recall clearly that a bread that we love was around $7 a loaf there. Back here is's no more than 3.99 a loaf. Also, gallons of water were all at least $3. Oddly though, the restaurants were not much different in price than the restaurants back here.
JK