Pandemic
Dear Editor: I would like to extend my thanks to all those who have been able to continue thinking clearly – and practically – about how we keep everyone safe during this marathon pandemic. Far from demonstrating ‘‘fear,’’ those who advocate for wearing masks and maintaining distance in situations where transmission is most likely, have shown strength of mind, steadiness of purpose, and thought for the short- and long-term consequences of our actions.
We are coming up to two years since the pandemic started changing what we thought of as ‘‘normal’’ life. I get that we are all tired of being constantly on the alert. But if we have learned anything, we know how to reduce the spread and the impact of it – and they are easy things to do! Hand washing has been the standout in disease control – a lot of us knew that but some of us needed to be reminded – the signs in the bathrooms weren’t a curtailment of anyone’s freedom. We also saw what happened when we got overconfident about the protection offered by current vaccines. We took our masks off and our infections went through the roof. Then we masked up, social-distanced, and our numbers went down. It is as plain as the noses on our faces.
As for freedom, we are a town full of people who jump on a boat the minute that the sun comes out, so I’m sure that we are all familiar with the idea that ‘‘kids don’t float,’’ right? Well, silly as it seems, making sure kids had a personal flotation device had to be mandated to make this safety measure something that we just do. Our smallest kids can’t protect themselves from drowning, and even though a PFD won’t keep them safe from everything in the water, it gives them a much better chance of survival. The same applies to masks. It’s not a silver bullet but it sure makes a difference.
Our life as a community relies on trust and the sense that we have each other’s backs. Our freedom from the worst aspects of this pandemic requires all of us to think about how our actions will impact on others. My thanks go out to the Assembly members who have borne the burden of helping us keep this in our minds. Gunalcheesh and thanks to Crystal Duncan, Thor Christianson, Kevin Mosher and Rebecca Himshoot.
Leah Mason, Sitka
