— from Russel Barsh for KWIAT —

Last weekend Indian Island had over fifty visitors from the mainland, only a handful had masks, and they seemed completely clueless. That put my (masked) researchers and volunteers at risk. I am altogether happy to be welcoming and positive with visitors, but they sometimes need to be told when their behavior threatens the health and the lives of others. I would like to see more emphasis on “responsibility” and on “safety,” which are stressed in the County’s public-health notices, and on the signs we just had printed for Indian Island.

Nearly all Orcas residents visiting Indian Island have been wearing masks. The problem is coming from people that already stretched the rules by coming here at all, after Washington State Ferries and San Juan County prohibited recreational travel as a measure to protect islanders’ heath, and prevent San Juan County from becoming a new hot spot, which an influx of tourists can do at this stage of the pandemic.

To deal with this reality, we have to begin saying “No, you are not welcome if you come from another part of the state and think you can do whatever you want once you get here.” That is, be more firm and less nice.

Kwiaht designed and printed “yard signs” for Indian Island earlier this week, at the request of our staff and our volunteers, with messages about masks, and restrictions on recreational travel — and each version stresses the phrase “Respect others’ health and safety!” We hope we’ll see some changes in visitors’ behavior the next minus-tide cycle!

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