Even if you think coronavirus is being exaggerated to hurt Trump, don’t put people like me at risk

A dangerous view

Following recommendations from the CDC, I shopped for groceries late Saturday night. A store employee restocking shelve, approached and asked: “Don’t you think this is all being exaggerated to (hurt Trump)?“

No, I do not.

I retired as a critical care nurse in 2015 after more than 30 years. The university hospital where I worked was the Ebola Intake center for the East coast.

The U.S. dodged a bullet with Ebola because of preparedness and proper response. SARS, MERS, HIV were also treated frequently at our facility. Many in the ICU. Many people everywhere died because of those diseases.

I doubt the families of those who died from COVID-19 and other epidemics share that employee’s opinion - a dangerous and careless opinion that could exacerbate the number of infected people.

If you agree with that employee, please err on the side of caution. Don’t risk the lives of your parents, grandparents, and other older people such as myself. Wash your hands, maintain social distancing, stay home if possible. Better safe than sorry.

Jeanne Clark, Nashville

Expand Medicaid

Child care programs, rest homes, and in-home services are essential in these times of school closings and isolation. Yet public servants in these settings often lack health insurance coverage. Their employers don’t offer affordable insurance and these workers often don’t qualify for either Medicaid or subsidies through the Affordable Care Act.

North Carolina should acknowledge the sacrifices these child care educators and direct care workers are making by extending Medicaid and sick leave immediately. It’s the least we can do.

Sue Russell and Bob Konrad, Chapel Hill

Spanish flu

Some folks may think our health officials are overreacting in regard to the many cancellations of sporting events and other venues due to the coronavirus. Let’s remind the pubic about the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918. It is estimated that 500 million people worldwide were infected and about 20 to 50 million died. Approximately 675,000 fatalities occurred in the U.S. We certainly don’t want a repeat of that era.

Gary Davis, Durham

Makeshift hospitals

It is apparent that in the near future our hospitals may be overwhelmed with coronavirus patients. Beds will be filled to capacity. Most cities and small towns here in North Carolina have vacant buildings from business closings. Unleash the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the National Guard to turn these empty buildings into overflow auxiliary hospital beds for patients with less severe complications from the virus.

Donald Trull, Sandford

Leadership

Thank you for highlighting the the latest information and advice from leaders at the national and state levels regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.

It is deeply heartening and reassuring to hear Dr. Anthony Fauci and N.C. Gov. Roy Cooper directly address this rapidly developing crisis. Both leaders show a level of clarity, humility, compassion and practicality that is refreshing and trustworthy.

Unfortunately, it highlights how devoid our current president is of these characteristics. I look forward to a time, in the near future, when such leadership returns to the highest office and administration of our nation.

Doug Jennette, Raleigh

Bernie Sanders

Dana Milbank is quite certain that by continuing his campaign, Sen. Bernie Sanders is playing the part of spoiler only. Actually, Milbank’s March 15 op-ed proves Sanders’ own argument in continuing his run. Milbank acknowledges than Sanders has the youth vote, and as everyone knows, the future belongs to the young.

Sanders is correct in his analysis that the establishment is working to end his campaign, a point Milbank dismisses. Sanders has said his campaign is made up almost entirely of the little people, not the establishment. And, he has a large, loyal following. Doesn’t he owe it to his supporters to carry this fight on? It seems to me he does.

Robert Peele, Rocky Mount

Lives of desperation

In the mid 1800s poet/philosopher Henry David Thoreau penned the famous phrase, “The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation” It seems we are not far from that today.

According to the highly respected Brookings Institution, 53 million U.S. workers, 44% of our workforce, ages 18-64, do not make enough to live on. In some areas such as Jacksonville, N.C., this number is closer to 60%.

Their median hourly salary is $10.22, their median annual income $18,000, and 59% of these workers are the only wage earner in the family. If there is another wage earner, he or she probably makes about the same wage.

It seems we still have a mass of men and women living lives of quiet desperation. We should do better then this!

Doug Jurney, Raleigh