It seems that we’ll have a new cadre of contact tracers ready to deal with an expected uptick of coronavirus cases from tourist arrivals, just in the nick of time.

The six-week training program started a week ago for 31 applicants, under the tutelage of the University of Hawaii-West Oahu’s faculty members Ricardo Custodio and Camonia Graham-Tutt.

Tourists could start arriving sometime in August at the earliest. Any resultant infections wouldn’t be due for about two weeks after that — a wee bit of a margin.

Urging UH fans to get off the sidelines

Not surprising but still worrisome, the University of Hawaii is seeing a 20% drop in its season-ticket renewals for both football and volleyball. In this age of COVID-19, uncertainties over game schedules, harder financial times and attendance restrictions surely are causing even die-hard fans to think twice.

And that’s truly lamentable, with the football team coming off two years of bowl appearances and debuting under a new coach; and the volleyball Wahine returning with a strong squad. To season ticket-holders still debating, it’s time to get into the game.