FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DR. JENNIFER SMITH VIROLOGIST AT THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SPEAKS OUT ABOUT
CONTACT TRACING AND IMPOSSIBLE WORKING CONDITIONS

DATE: SEPTEMBER 10, 2020

CONTACT: Carl Varady 387-8100; 523-8447; carl@varadylaw.com;

Zoom Personal Meeting ID 828 636 4291
Password 08061952
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8286364291?pwd=UVlYMHltdEpHZ1NMSU93Z3Z3UWhHQT09j

Dr. Jennifer Smith, a virologist and public health professional employed by the state
Department of Health since 2016, was suspended with pay on Friday, September 4,
2020, after speaking out publicly about the understaffing of Department of Health
COVID-19 contact tracers and their working conditions. She issued the following
statement today:

As an Epidemiological Specialist at the Hawaii Department of Health, I am very proud

of the work that our team has done while working under extreme and demanding
conditions. I am humbled by the sacrifices each and every one of my co-workers
made, continuing to test, track, educate and partner with multiple organizations to
continue to serve the people of Hawai‘i during this difficult time. We, along with the
people in the laboratories, offices and communities treating, tracking and educating
people who are the most underserved are Hawai‘i ’s best defense against the
suffering, disruption and death this illness causes.

The pandemic has greatly impacted our lives on many levels. From families’ home
schooling their children and struggling to work, first responders, health care providers
and public health professionals. People of our community have been confused,
frustrated and anxious. I spoke out because the people of Hawai‘i deserve not only to
be as safe and healthy as possible during the pandemic—they deserve to know the
facts.

Contrary to other public statements I have read and heard, I was aware of a total of
only 10 epidemiologist investigators at the Department on Oahu tracking the spread of
COVID-19. The members of our team worked six to seven days a week 10 to 12 hours
per day, often with no pay for overtime, trying to defend Hawai‘i from the pandemic
while the numbers of infected people continued to mushroom. Our workload reached
300% of intended capacity, working with outmoded computers, overwhelmed phones
staffed by people without complete training, and a data system that was never
validated. Even working from home on weekends, we could not keep up.

In a meeting with Dr. Park on July 31st, I told her that our team was overwhelmed and
could not keep up with the escalating numbers of infected people because our time
and resources were already stretched to capacity. Her only response was to demand
that we had to do more. A management culture of “bullying, shame and blame”
fosters a culture of fear, not the solid science that is essential to insure Hawai‘i ’s
public health. Employees should not have to choose between protecting their careers,
through unquestioning loyalty to ineffective leadership, versus asking for the tools to
do the kind and quality of science necessary stop the pandemic. Our job is saving
lives, not saving face. I was forced to leave the Department on September 4th when
the faction protecting Dr. Park, at what I believe is the cost of public health,
prevailed.

Contrary to public statements made by others, the only thing I have ever threatened
was the toxic management culture at the Department and that has directly impeded
my and other epidemiologist investigators’ work. Character attacks on me after I
spoke up publicly, and “We with Sarah” buttons, are not going to stop the pandemic
or save a single life in Hawai‘i. Saving lives will only occur through good science,
conducted by dedicated people who have the resources necessary to do their work
without managers who put micromanagement and personal loyalty ahead of Hawai‘i ’s
public health. This is what I want for Hawai‘i ’s families; it is what they deserve; it is
the only reason I took the personal and career risks to speak out.

From the beginning of the pandemic until now, the Department was understaffed and
unable to fulfill its role in insuring public safety. I confirmed this in testimony given
at a closed Senate Ways and Means Committee meeting, hoping that the legislature
could help the Department. Though it was reported that $50 million in CARES Act
funds were available to address the pandemic, we constantly were unable to protect
the people at the level that is necessary to respond effectively to detect and prevent
the spread of the virus.

Public health is the greatest insurance policy for Hawai‘i’s people. The opportunity to
crush out the pandemic has been compromised directly by a lack of effective
leadership at the Department coupled with the obvious need for more resources, staff
and training that has not been addressed. We have missed opportunities to stop the
virus in its tracks. I sincerely hope it is not too late to find skilled leaders, more
highly trained staff and resources necessary for a dedicated team to do so now.

ENDIT
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