Sound Off for March 15, 2020

Tele-vote

Here’s a thought. Congress is in-session now and voting on bills daily. They are soon going to recess. With the spreading coronavirus, pass a bill that allows them to vote via teleconference, because once they are in their home states, some may not be able to travel back to D.C. to vote. Make the bill only valid for this specific emergency. The same could apply to local and state governments. Do it now before it’s too late.

All illnesses

With all the mass hysteria over the coronavirus, hording toilet paper, hand sanitizer, surgical masks, etc., wouldn’t it be nice if we treated the seasonal flu with 1/10 of the caution, news coverage and prevention we are giving the coronavirus?

Shortcomings

The virus reveals the shortcomings in the for profit health care system we have in our country as well as the economic inequality. There is no effective central government agency to coordinate and control responses to this disaster. For example, there are not enough test kits and there may be thousands of people out there with the virus, unknowingly infecting other people. Poor and uninsured people will not be able to get adequate treatment. In addition, these people cannot “self-isolate” themselves for 14 days if they want to eat and feed their families and therefore cannot just stop working as is the recommendation. The inability to adequately test large numbers of people will be a disastrous black mark in our nation’s history.

Calm down

I wish people would settle down and use common sense through this coronavirus outbreak. Did you not wash your hands before? Did you not think of others when you go out sick? You’re more likely to catch the regular flu if you haven’t done this before. Let’s act responsibly and grown up. It is a serious virus but panic doesn’t help. Be aware of where you are and be sensible and we will get through this.

Mandatory closings

What is wrong with our city officials and state agencies? As the virus continues to spread you would think all casinos and large events would be closed and postponed! Look at what is happening right now in N.O. after Mardi Gras.

To submit a Sound Off, email soundoff@sunherald.com

This story was originally published March 13, 2020 at 2:33 PM with the headline "Sound Off for March 15, 2020."