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Other Voices

Remember: We Are All In This Together

As we find ourselves in the midst of a health pandemic (COVID-19), it is important that we follow the facts and not fall victim to the multitude of conspiracy theories that are out there. Do your own research; don’t listen to the alarmists. The facts are available – for example:

Our governors and other public officials are, for the most part, doing their level best to get us through the health crisis. Remember, this is a novel coronavirus — we've never had to deal with it before, so public officials and health professionals must frequently adjust as circumstances change.

Statistics as to number of cases, new cases, and deaths are always as accurate as possible for the circumstances. These numbers are subject to change at times because of human error, not because of some conspiracy.

The fact that many of us followed or are following the recommended guidelines, including stay at home, results in a reduction in certain accidental deaths such as highway related fatalities. Also, anyone who would bother researching prior health crises (1918 flu pandemic, the AIDS epidemic, SARS pandemic) will find that many times an individual might succumb to complications created by that particular health crisis; the death certificate, therefore, would most accurately read a combination of causes but this does not always happen.

Essential services have been open in order to provide the necessities for our citizenry. Any business that requires people to be indoors in a cluster (such as restaurants), creates circumstances that must be controlled for the health of everyone.

Regarding COVID-19, the next hurdle involves more testing, tracing the affected, and quarantining the sick. Those steps need be followed by the immunizations under development.

It is of the utmost importance for our own health to follow the guidelines established by health professionals. These doctors and scientists both at the national and the state level, such as Fauci, Brix, and Levine, command the highest respect from both their peers and other associates. They are the best of the best.

In conclusion, the only agenda of the majority of our community health care and state government officials in this pandemic that has become complicated by financial and civil rights issues is to bring us all through these crises in the very best way possible. For the vast majority, there is no hidden agenda. It is critical that we all support one another, follow safety precautions, and remember that we are all in this together.

Editor’s Note: Jim Glunt lives in Martinsburg.

 

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