What we can and cannot do during this pandemic
Most of Colorado is still in lockdown. Sports, theaters, performing arts are closed. Business, restaurants and churches are open with 50% of capacity or a maximum of 50 people. Rotary and other groups can only meet with 10 people or less. Gov. Jared Polis urged the right to work protesters to stay home. He closed a Castle Rock restaurant that opened a week early.
A few weeks later, rioters and demonstrators are allowed to meet by the thousands for weeks on end. They broke windows, stopped traffic and closed businesses where they gathered. They don’t social distance and seldom wear masks. Hypocritical government leaders like our attorney general condone an illegal event near the Capitol by giving a speech. Mayor Hancock walked with protesters. These protesters are called heroes for breaking the lockdown laws for a good cause.
Excuse me governor, but wanting to go to work to feed your family, pay your rent, keep your business open or wanting to worship are equally worthy causes. If we wear a masks and/or social distancing, we should be able to do all our normal activities.
Tim T. Schowalter, Granby
Libraries are essential in these crazy times. Children and adults need ready access to books. Not everyone wants to read an e-version. Children need to actually hold paper books so they can develop reading skills.
When are the powers that be going to allow the public libraries to open? I can put on my mask, go to department and grocery stores, restaurants and now even casinos, but not a library. At the grocery store and Target, I can use a machine to check out, but not at the library.
Librarians are smart. I’m sure they can devise a plan where masked patrons can come in, spend a few minutes and check out books while still protecting their employees. To their credit, Jeffco libraries are doing curbside pickup. It is a valiant effort, but not very efficient. My husband and I have a number of books on our “hold” list. So far in three weeks, my husband has gotten two books and I’ve gotten none.
Sadly, libraries at this time can’t be community centers. So remove the chairs, limit the number of patrons at one time, limit computer use, even limit hours so library personnel can easily shelve books when no patrons are present. But, please, open the libraries.
Sue Sanders, Arvada
Gov. Jared Polis and his team have made a mistake by allowing overnight camps in Colorado to operate this summer. Over 85% of the overnight camps accredited by the American Camp Association in Colorado have already decided that it is in the best interest of public health to suspend their summer programs and look ahead to 2021 as the right time to bring kids together in overnight camps, which are the opposite of social distancing.
If schools are struggling with how to keep kids safe in August, why take risks, now, with overnight camps?
Their thinking neglects the fact that:
• The CDC has classified overnight camps as part of their “highest risk” category.
• A COVID-19 outbreak at an overnight camp wouldn’t just affect the people at camp, it would affect the siblings, parents, grandparents, and extended families of every child and staff member once they return home after camp.
• Overnight camp operations and living can be most closely compared to life on a cruise ship.
Finally, this is child and family health we are talking about. While it is rare that children get sick, when they do, it can be potentially dangerous for them, their families, and surrounding communities.
At Camp Granite Lake, like many camps in the state, we chose to protect camp families and kids, and forego 99% of our business revenue this year. In 2021, we will all know so much more about how to test for, manage, and contain this virus. We hope that the governor will step up to help the businesses that made conservative choices to protect kids and families this year.
Tommy Feldman, Golden