Manatee County needs to make tough COVID-19 decision based on science | Letter to the editor

An open letter to the Manatee County commisioners:

We can go on ignoring and denying the overwhelming scientific evidence of the long-term effects of the climate change crisis. We may not even be around to feel the effects.

But it is not going to be so easy to ignore the short-term effects of the pandemic if we disregard the scientific recommendations..

Wearing masks is not only protecting me from you, it is protecting you from me. It is taking responsibility for each other.

Any one of us may be infected and capable of spreading the virus. It is a fact that people are testing positive who have no symptoms.

Refusing to take direction from science and reluctance on the part of our leaders to mandate appropriate guidelines will result in many more deaths in the near future. Data will prove it. Is it worth the risk?

This is a plea to our county commissioners: Please listen to the leadership provided by our scientists. Demand, yes demand. that in public facilities like grocery stores, we must wear face masks, practice social distancing and eliminate large gatherings of people. And then enforce these demands as if our ivies depended on it because it does.

While our infection rate is still manageable, institute the process of contact tracing immediately. If need be, figure out a way to make those who are collecting unemployment benefits take on the responsibility of contact tracing. Just get it done!

Take control of the situation, make some hard decisions to protect our lives, based on science. It is irresponsible not to do so .

Have the courage to make unpopular decisions and back them up with enforcement.

Six months to a year from now, there may not be any plausible deniability spin on this one.

Jamie Canfield

Bradenton