Not much improved since 1918

To the editor:

Unfortunately, despite the world’s best efforts to control and contain SARS-CoV-2, we are faltering.

Despite sound medical advice and the politicization of this disease, it is in fact mostly healthy younger people not suffering from dangerous medical pre-conditions that are spreading this virus around the world.

Similar to the health practices in curtailing the AIDS epidemic, this disease demands people take personal responsibility for themselves, loved ones and neighbors. This disease, like many others, can be prevented by taking precautionary measures.

In the example of AIDS, it was to avoid sexual contact without using “protection,” and not sharing hypodermic needles.

The precautions suggested now are as simple as wearing a mask, washing your hands, and maintaining distance between people in close quarters.

However, being an impatient and fun-loving people, many in both the Americas and Europe — after months of uneven restrictions and necessary boredom — have decided that this pandemic has ended, and is soon to disappear. This we call magical thinking with no basis in reality — people may believe they are finished with this disease, but in fact, the virus will not end until we have an effective vaccine.

A smaller percentage are Voodoo science practitioners who have moronically fought against taking any precautionary measures, and are overtly jeopardizing the rest of our societies.

I believe that a few very important facts concerning this pandemic and its comparison to the 1918 Spanish flu have been mostly unaddressed. Fact is, the world’s population is far greater and much more mobile, interconnected and traveled than more than a century ago. And it is just as politically and economically precarious as in the past.

Despite living in 21st century America, it’s somewhat astounding that even our great nation still has not yet established any uniform emergency pandemic practices, or even national election policies from state to state.

Food for some serious thought.

Lou Deholczer

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