While COVID-19 can be a deadly disease for the most vulnerable among us, current data indicate that most of those who fall prey to the coronavirus will suffer relatively mild physical effects.

However, the impact on the global community is shaping up to be anything but mild — with strains on both the economic and public-health fronts — underscoring how crucial preparation is for Hawaii.

It’s also becoming increasingly clear how much this state’s resilience depends on the mindful actions of its citizens, who should be bearing a large share of the preparation burden themselves.

The first Hawaii case of the virus was confirmed on Friday, of a Hawaii resident who had traveled on a San Francisco-Mexico cruise Feb. 11-21 then flew home from Mexico. But the delayed reach of the virus to the islands did give leaders time to ramp up planning and communications to the public. So far leaders have been thinking through the issues — and for a travel destination that is surely being watched, it’s doubly important to put out the message that the situation is in hand.

Gov. David Ige issued an emergency proclamation Wednesday to assure Hawaii’s access to federal funds, and named Lt. Gov. Josh Green, an emergency medicine physician, to coordinate the state’s response. Officials are looking at Leahi and Wahiawa General hospitals as potential quarantine centers that would stand ready in particular for nonresidents unable to shelter at home.

These are only the first steps taken in a fast-moving outbreak, one that will challenge Hawaii’s health-care system to keep up.

The pace of the sobering news is picking up as more testing is being done. Green has said that requirements that patients have traveled are removed in order to get referrals for testing; now testing can be ordered based largely on symptoms.

Seeing that change, with all states’ improved capacity for testing, was a relief. Getting the clearest reading possible of the virus’ footprint in Hawaii is needed to strengthen the controls on its spread.

Otherwise, of course, the economic impact is potentially enormous.

First, travel to Hawaii already is on a downward track. Major events bringing in visitors may be canceled. It’s already happened with the annual Honolulu Festival, for example, a big attraction in Japan, which rivals only the U.S. mainland as a market for the visitor industry.

Fewer tourists means less spending, which will over time make a real dent in the state’s revenues from the general excise tax. Most of the state’s operating budget relies on the GET, and the Oahu surcharge on that tax is the principal financing source for rail construction.

State House Speaker Scott Saiki has announced that all of these matters would be tackled by a new select committee on the contingency plans made necessary by COVID-19.

Some of this planning must happen within the walls of the state Capitol itself: There are some big-ticket items on the docket that will require more consideration, now that fluctuations in the stock market signals likely economic uncertainty ahead. A difficult balancing act will be in store.

For instance, there were ambitious outlays in the works on affordable housing initiatives and expanding access to early-learning programs in public and private settings. These would be worth some investment. However, launching a new School Facilities Agency, a bad idea on its face, is an expansion of state bureaucracy that should be shelved.

Rough seas for the tourism industry also would add to the turbulence for all businesses, already likely to feel some stress from a proposed hike in the minimum wage.

So anything that can be done — by everyone — to blunt the effects of the virus would be key.

Prevention is still the best medicine here, and that starts with the instilling of good basic hygiene among the general public. Frequent handwashing, keeping clear of people in settings where disease can spread — these are common-sense practices. Even so, making them habitual takes time, so people need to start now.

Those in particular danger are the elderly and infirm, so officials providing oversight must check to see that enough precautions are being taken by residential facilities for seniors. Families need to think about keeping elders somewhat isolated from public settings.

Now is the time for making contingency plans, for all members of the family who may at some point find it wise to stay home. Telecommuting is an idea whose time has come.

And yes, it’s also time to stock up on household food and supplies, so that “sheltering in place,” if it becomes necessary, is possible. Even so, there’s no cause for hoarding merchandise, or for merchants to allow customers to do so. Placing per-purchase limits on in-demand items would be the responsible policy for the sellers — price-gouging for them certainly would not be acceptable.

Finally, people do have some reasonable control over their own well-being, by taking sensible precautions. Remembering that may buoy spirits. Hawaii can get through this crisis, and come out more resilient at the other end.