FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sept. 4, 2020
Coby Torda interview released by Councilmember Kym Pine
Pine hopes residents will realize the seriousness of COVID and its negative impacts, even to healthy young people
HONOLULU, HAWAII Former COVID-19 patient Coby Torda has to take oxygen with him where ever he goes, as his long road to recovery continues.
Honolulu City Councilmember Kym Pine has released an interview with the Ewa Beach resident and COVID-19 survivor, to educate residents about the seriousness of the virus and the negative impacts it can have on even healthy people. She also did the interview to relieve some of the pressure of media interview requests Coby has received. The video clearly shows the difficulties he still has, as his recovery continues.
It is so important that people understand how dangerous and devastating this virus can be, even on young, healthy, active people and even moreso for our kupuna with existing health issues, she said. This is not just the flu.
In the interview, Coby talks about the 104-degree fever he had for five days, that would not break, that resulted in his hospitalization.
His husband Scotty Staples discusses the hardship he and the rest of the family endured, of not being able to visit Coby in the hospital. I think one of the biggest misconceptions around this virus is that its like the flu, that you get it and you make a full recovery, but thats not true.
We also have this tendency to focus on the mortality rate, rather than the amount of people that have ongoing problems, long-lasting problems, Scotty said.
Upon emerging from a nearly two-month coma, Coby said, I remember waking up, I couldnt even hold my phone when I wanted to FaceTime my family.
Pine urges everyone to wear a mask, to physically distance, to wash their hands and to avoid gatherings that can result in exposure to COVID-19.
The video can be seen here: https://youtu.be/WHoDwWeCdwo
Councilmember Kym Pine represents residents of District One, comprising portions of Ewa Villages and Ewa Beach, Kapolei, Makakilo, Kalaeloa, Honokai Hale, Ko Olina, Nnkuli, Mili, Waianae, Mkaha, Keaau and Makua) and is chair of the City Councils Committee on Business Economic Development and Tourism.
Media Contact:
Erika Engle
Communications Director
erika [dot] engle honolulu [dot] gov
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