Wear a mask when you are out. Lives are at risk | Letter to the editor

As I write this letter, the day before Memorial Day, COVID-19 has killed at least 91 people in Manatee and 73 people in Sarasota, probably more, uncounted.

It appears we have been able to avoid the disaster New York suffered because, though we were late, we engaged the CDC protocols like the shut-down to slow the contagion. Eliminating close contact with others stopped the uncontrolled spread of the killing disease. That was a great success.

However, it looks like some people are determined to reverse that and do their best to spread as much disease and death as possible. As we “open-up” and restrictions are eased, many people are going out among us as if the problem has disappeared. It hasn’t. If their carelessness continues, we’ll just start up the uncontrolled spread we had stopped. We’ll create a NYC-type disaster here.

I was at Walmart and Publix on Saturday and fewer than half the people were wearing masks and staying 6 feet from others. I had to bark at a few to get away from me. I saw people greet others they hadn’t seen for a while with no masks, close up, loudly complaining about the rules. They are sending a message that they would rather let neighbors and family die needlessly rather than be mildly inconvenienced.

Wear a mask, you people. Stay away from others. Don’t be so damn selfish and inconsiderate. If you are following the rules and see others ignoring them, give them hell. Lives are at stake.

William Anderson

Bradenton