LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Please act now, Governor

Please close the state now. If our government does that, we can contain this horrible virus and maybe our children can get back to school. They say most are not dying from this horrible virus, but have you spoken to or seen anyone who has recovered from this? It’s an awful illness to catch! Our children are suffering and they will continue to suffer. It’s early July. We have time to get this under more of our control. Think of those sweet innocent children!

Lori Weiss, Parkland

Gov. DeSantis, what does it take to do the right thing to protect Floridians? With more people getting infected and no sign of this virus going away, mandatory masking and distancing seem to be the best and only weapons we have to beat this thing. No one likes to be told what to do, but if it saves lives and protects our children and others most vulnerable, isn’t it worth doing?

Why is it we can come together voluntarily in almost every crisis — except this one? Please act now and mandate masking and close beaches and bars. Yes, it’s inconvenient. Yes, it is costly. But if it ends this virus and saves lives, it will be worth it, and we will recover. Be smart, be wise, forget politics and do the right thing. By the way, I am an 88-year-old cancer survivor who has masked and distanced since March 3.

Audrey Frieman, Pembroke Pines

‘Live with it’? No way

Our President told the American people that the COVID-19 pandemic is something ”we need to live with” and “99% of the cases are totally harmless.” Would you live with a diagnosis of cancer? No. You would seek treatment. Would you drive without wearing a seat belt? No. It’s proven you can die or be badly injured in an accident. Would you text and drive? No. You can cause an accident, or die yourself. Would you leave a child or animal in a hot car? No. Death is almost immediate. The list goes on. Why would our leadership tell the American people to “live with” the virus? “Living with it” is unacceptable.

Barbara Morris, Boca Raton

Face shields in schools

With the notice that Florida public schools must reopen and offer 5-day-a-week instruction, I suggest we provide all students, teachers and staff members with face shields, masks and personal hand sanitizers. Require all to wear a face shield or mask, if not both. Seeing and reacting to facial expressions are important for more clearly understanding instructions and questions, especially in cases of hearing impairment. Face shields discourage touching of the face with hands and are more easily cleaned and sanitized than masks. Shields do not seem to carry the same stigma associated with masks and provide a friendly way of dealing with a dreadful pandemic.

Webb Wiggins, Oakland Park

Just disappear

In a recent interview President Trump said, “I think that at some point that’s going to sort of just disappear, I hope.” According to NPR, the U.S. has reached a global record of more than 55,000 new COVID-19 cases in one day. To the president, as if by magic, the pandemic will just go away. Come January, wouldn’t it be wonderful if Trump and his science-denying enablers would magically disappear?

Connie Goodman-Milone, Miami