Opinion // Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor: Set aside disputes and work together

Although it is no surprise that President Trump once again risks major shoulder injury from patting himself on the back, this time about his self-delusional extraordinary efforts to contain the spread of the coronavirus, his clear attempt to frame the global pandemic into his America First ideology is the last thing we need right now. This is a time to set aside all political disagreements with other countries about immigration, trade, weapons, alliances, etc. with a global strategy to contain a pandemic, the likes of which we have not experienced in our lifetimes.

For perspective, not that it matters to Trump and his acolytes, but the 1918 pandemic called the Spanish flu that resulted in an estimated 50 million deaths worldwide actually originated in Kansas, but Spain was the first to report their cases in a postwar period that did not encourage freedom of the press, so they got the credit. We cannot be distracted by blaming other countries or crowing about who has the best public health system. We have to figure out how to combine our collective capacities to take this on together. Maybe this collaboration could also be contagious.

Bob Prentice, San Francisco

Keep the coffee moving

With the news that “Starbucks might limit customers” (Daily Briefing, Business, March 13) in some of its stores or only offer drive-through service in others due to the coronavirus pandemic, don’t be surprised if this item is soon being sold on its menu: “Caffe Move Along Mocha.”

Annabelle Devereaux, San Francisco

Practice good hygiene

Perhaps we need to look back at previous plagues, such as influenza, yellow fever, tuberculosis, polio, measles, HIV/AIDS and Ebola (as well as the opioid epidemic). TB and polio hospitals used to house thousands — then people were treated successfully or the disease prevented, so those hospitals closed. I remember receiving the Salk polio vaccine in a little sugar cube when I was in grade school.

This plague, too, will follow a trajectory of introduction, growth, expanded countermeasures, then decline in impact. We previously blamed no president, nor went into public paranoia.

Remember when our San Francisco public health officer closed the bathhouses? He was excoriated, until it was recognized that the virus was transmitted through sexual contact. Current cases show not all are willing to change their behaviors. Today, all of us need to practice good hygiene, avoid crowds and stop whining.

Wanda Jones, San Francisco

Set a good example

It’s both shocking and disappointing that NBA player Rudy Gobert of the Utah Jazz rubbed a bank of microphones and recorders to joke about the social distancing required between players and media and tested positive for the coronavirus days later. This illness, which has so far infected over 100,000 people and caused over 5,000 deaths, is no joke.

And while Gobert has since apologized for his behavior, it’s his teammate Donovan Mitchell, who also tested positive for this virus, who has set a better public example by stating: “hopefully people can continue to educate themselves and realize that they need to behave responsibly.” Thank you, Mr. Mitchell, for your wise words.

Demetrius McDaniel, Oakland

Move classes outside

Rather than close the schools, which imposes huge custodial, educational and often nutritional costs on students and families, why not, as we approach spring, except on rainy days, move classes outside into the fresh, far less virus-concentrated air?

In addition to the safer air, it would be easier to maintain the recommended 6-foot distance between people. Kids, teachers, custodians and, if needed, parent volunteers could, on a one-time basis, move chairs and whiteboards outside into the schoolyard or nearby parks. The hassle of moving tables probably isn’t worth it. Laps will do in a pinch. It’s not optimal, but better than leaving kids in classrooms — virus factories without social distancing — or closing schools, which leaves parents to find child care. Plus, keeping school open would allow the kids to keep learning. According to the test scores, many kids can hardly afford to miss several days of school, although when I was a child, it would have been a dream come true.

Marty Nemko, Oakland

China’s response

Some Americans bashed China’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak, saying China mishandled the crisis due to its “authoritarian system of government.” This is despite the World Health Organization’s high praise for China’s efforts.

Yet now that COVID-19 is worldwide, and declining in China, we see up close how our system compares. First, our democratically elected president didn’t authorize enough test kits. Second, our system isn’t willing or able to duplicate the most effective actions China took.

In addition to extensive testing, China built pop-up hospitals in just days to serve thousands of patients. Why not us? Our army can erect field hospitals quickly in combat zones, so why not here? Would that drain military resources from ill-conceived wars in the Middle East? Or from fighting off immigrants at the border?

Lastly, China locked down entire cities and organized food deliveries and medical care to the entire population of those cities. But we can’t even solve our homeless problem, thus we are talking about “flattening the curve” rather than stopping the disease outright. Now, China is sending experts to help Italy and other nations. We live in a glass house; we shouldn’t throw stones at other nations.

Michael Wong, San Francisco