Don’t reopen the country until more masks, ventilators and better tracking are in place

Opening the US

It is imperative that we produce N95 masks en masse for the general public, and doctors and nurses, before opening the country for business.

Testing must also be widespread, along with tracking, before opening the country or lifting quarantines. Ventilators must be produced at a higher rate before quarantines are lifted.

It’s outrageous that this is not being done! Studies show N95 masks screen out 96% of microbes, while some homemade fabric masks only screen out 40%.

Many manufacturing facilities are closed down and could be used for mass production of N95 masks, test kits and ventilators so that all are protected.

Karen McGrew, Raleigh

Let governors decide

I find it interesting that throughout this pandemic, President Trump has repeatedly said “it’s up to the states.” White House senior advisor Jared Kushner even said “The “notion of the federal stockpile was it’s supposed to be our stockpile. It’s not supposed to be states’ stockpiles that they then use.”

Really? And now Trump insists that reopening the country is solely his decision, not the governors’. I pray that for once in his life, Trump listens to those who have been on the front lines, namely the governors.

Terry Baker, Raleigh

Blame Democrats

Does anyone remember impeachment? That was the Democrats’ obsession while the coronavirus was spreading into the United States. Fortunately, while that spectacle was going on President Trump restricted travel from China into the U.S. on Jan 31, and he has continued to remain focused on this outbreak. So blame Democrats for being oblivious to the COVID-19 pandemic. Credit Trump for staying focused on it.

John Toffaletti, Durham

Lessons learned

There are useful lessons from the coronavirus pandemic that climate change skeptics should take to heart:

▪ Trust the scientists when they say that danger is around the corner.

▪ Be prepared.

▪ Act now – timing is a matter of life and death.

And, last but not least, be sure you have a functioning federal government

Ruth Grant, Chapel Hill

NC forests

Research shows that the destruction of forests, driven by logging, mining, intense urbanization, and population growth, is bringing people in contact with more animal species than ever before. These activities are creating habitats where known viruses are transmitted more easily, and new ones are potentially bred.

Last year, the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality approved massive expansion of wood pellet production. Over 60,000 acres of N.C. forest can now be clear-cut annually. This ill-advised authorization to destroy our forests at this magnitude is incredulous and irresponsible.

Post COVID-19 measures to meet the challenge of future pandemics must disallow this type of atrocity. The new normal should include a higher value attached to our forests and the many ways they contribute to the health of our planet.

Joseph B. Jackson, Durham

Church services

Pastors who continue to hold worship services in their churches, despite the warning against mass gatherings during the coronavirus pandemic, need to give attention to the scriptures.

Consider the 13th chapter of Romans. Paul urges the people to keep the commandments and cites those that affect one’s relations with other people. He declares that love does no harm to a neighbor. If we truly love our neighbors, we would never deliberately expose them to a deadly virus that could infect the whole community.

One day we can hopefully return to our sanctuaries and feel safe from all harm. During this interim period we can find other ways to be present with God and in communion with one another.

Rev. Thomas Spence Jr., Sanford

Redistricting

After the 2000 census, Democratic leaders in the N.C. General Assembly used U.S. Census data to gerrymander legislative districts in their favor. This resulted in unfair and dishonest elections for a decade.

After the 2010 census, Republicans leaders in the N.C. legislature used census data to gerrymander legislative districts in their favor. This resulted in unfair and dishonest elections for a decade.

Current Republican leaders are apparently concerned that a change to mail-in ballots for the upcoming election could be rigged by Gov. Roy Cooper and/or the State Board of Elections. With the General Assembly about to convene, now is the time to revive discussion about creating a nonpartisan redistricting commission during this session, to be in place after the 2020 census results are available and used in the next round of redistricting.

Bob Williams, Fuquay-Varina

This story was originally published April 14, 2020 at 11:35 AM.