It’s time to hold leaders responsible for COVID-19’s damage to our health | Letter to the editor

How can we stop this scourge from affecting and killing so many Floridians? It isn’t that hard if you wash your hands and follow two simple principles, wear a mask and social distance. Yet many Floridians refuse to wear masks and sometimes mock or even attack others for following what the WHO, CDC, NIH and medical experts advise.

As a clinical immunologist who trained under Dr. Anthony Fauci, I am appalled at this lack of respect for human life. Many countries, states and municipalities mandate mask wearing and social distancing that has led to flattened curves and saving lives. Yet, our country, our state and many Tampa Bay area municipalities (e.g. Manatee county) refuse to impose restrictions such as mask wearing in indoor environments.

Instead, it is full steam ahead with more openings, including Disney World and schools. Sure, children tend to be less vulnerable to adverse health effects of coronavirus, but they are not immune from getting sick or dying and serve as vectors to infect teachers, parents, friends, etc. Undoubtedly this lack of federal, state and municipal leadership to protect us from each other WILL result in an ever-increasing number of cases and fatalities.

As a physician, if I fail to do the “right thing” and this leads to harm or death of another I can be held both civilly and criminally responsible (e.g. charged with involuntary manslaughter). By failing to protect us and putting us in the coronavirus cross-hairs, shouldn’t the president, governor, some local leaders and the anti-maskers be held to the same standards? It’s worth considering!

Thomas Casale, M.D.

Palmetto