Memphis proud during COVID-19
Having an older parent, as well as friends with a multitude of challenges brought on by COVID, has been extremely concerning and difficult. Though we’ve settled into our socially distanced routine, it is nearly impossible to fully protect people from the threat.
It’s been difficult for all of us to be shut inside and kept from those we love. This combined with swirling uncertainty and fear has taken a toll on people’s mental state. Normalcy is an unattainable dream without a vaccine or treatment.
Luckily, America’s best and brightest pharmaceutical researchers and scientists are working around the clock to make this dream a reality. In fact, it was great to hear recently that Pfizer is hopeful they will have a vaccine on the market soon.
Given their large presence in Memphis, it is great that our community will be so engaged in the cure.
Though their success isn’t guaranteed, it is better assured with the support of the federal government. I encourage Tennessee’s legislators to lead the charge in backing America’s pharmaceutical industry as they seek to put an end to the crisis.
Jenn Warne, Germantown
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Beware of barbecue bugs
There is good news from COVID-19 for this Memorial Day. We won’t be getting stuck in traffic jams. And, the meat shortage will keep us safe from our outdoor grills.
Folks who grill hamburgers and hot dogs face a nasty choice.
The U.S. Meat and Poultry Hotline advises grilling at high temperature to avoid food poisoning by E. coli and salmonella bacteria. But the National Cancer Institute warns that high-temperature grilling of processed meats generates cancer-causing compounds.
Fortunately, we no longer need to choose between food poisoning or cancer.
A bunch of enterprising U.S. food processors have met this challenge head-on by developing a rich variety of convenient, healthful, delicious plant-based meats, burgers, hot dogs, and kid friendly nuggets. These products don’t harbor nasty bugs or cancercausing compounds.
They are missing the cholesterol, saturated fats, drugs, hormones, and pesticides of their animalbased alternatives. And, they are waiting for us in the frozen food section of our favorite supermarket, along with nut-based ice creams, and other dairy-free desserts.
This Memorial Day, in the shadow of COVID-19, let’s stay safe in more ways than one.
Morris Furman, Memphis
Keep high standard on cleaning businesses
In a response to some businesses that are requiring face masks to enter their stores, I want these same stores to continuously sterilize their carts, credit card machines and anything else that might be touched by numerous people during their visits to your stores.
Do not dictate to anyone what they should do during this virus outbreak, if you’re not going to do your part to ensure our safety. I’ve been to numerous stores throughout this quarantine situation, and there is nothing at all standard throughout these stores to keep things disinfected. They have certain doors to go in and out so that people are “kept” distanced from each other. Yet, when you go out these doors to leave, you’re pushed right beside people checking out. People are not thinking logically about things. They are just implementing various things that really do more harm than good.
Store managers: use some common sense.
David Medlin, Bartlett