Ernest Roy: Our Covid numbers are low but only diligence will keep it that way

To The Daily Sun,

Recently, I have noted comments questioning the need for area residents to adhere to COVID-19 mitigation strategies such as mask use, social distancing, frequent hand washing, etc. The gist of the doubt often seems to center around the idea that since our infection numbers are perceived as "low" versus our area population, we have very little chance of more people becoming sick.The basic ignorance in this argument is profound.

Where to start? Well, how about the fact that this area receives lots of tourists from out-of-state, even overseas, who may travel in from severe outbreak areas. Let's then go to the fact that we do not test nearly enough people so the true prevalence of infection in our population is higher than we are led to believe.

By the way, how much illness and how many deaths are acceptable? Maybe the value of another person's life means less to some people? We have lost folks from right there in our area. Maybe nobody you know, but I'm sure their families and friends grieve their deaths. The good news is that we have not had the high rates of deaths that some other places have had. This is the perfect time to use preventative measures to keep it that way.

You use your seat belt before you crash your car, not after a head-on. So let's not wait for it to be a disaster here. Let's work really hard to get thru this as safely as we possibly can. That way, we can keep businesses open, let people keep their jobs, let schools open again, and keep our loved ones around a while longer.

Eernest Roy

Northfield