Don't be mistaken: COVID-19 is a killer

Issue of the Taos News. Firstly, I applaud Mr. Irwin’s longstanding support of Taos, both in spirit and contributions to the local economy. But, without being personally insulting to him, his article is severely flawed. As a retired research microbiologist at Los Alamos National Laboratory, I can say with credibility that COVID-19 is a killer, and continues to be so largely because of those who refuse vaccination, masks, and social distancing – per guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institutes of Health and Food and Drug Administration. In the US now, over 90 percent of deaths are among the unvaccinated. Thus, I strongly support the efforts of our state government, tribal leaders, Taos County and Taos Ski Valley to combat this pandemic.

Yet, Irwin takes issue with the efforts of Taos and by extension New Mexico. Really?

Mr. Irwin, your state leads the nation in daily average deaths (164) and is in the top 15 for deaths per 1,000 people – neither of those are shared by New Mexico. So long as fools continue to confuse what they perceive as “individual rights” over “individual and social responsibility,” this virus will continue to be among us, mutate and kill. You may not know it but there is no article in the US Constitution or Bill of Rights giving you the “right” to remain unvaccinated, not wear a mask or social distance. You do not have the “right” to infect others.

And, I find it incredulous that you have the audacity to accuse us of “government tyranny” when you come from a state that has just imposed the most restrictive law over womens’ bodies – taking away the “right” of a woman to choose even before she knows she’s pregnant. Now that’s real tyranny.

Finally, if I may speak for the members of our community, if you continue to ignore vaccination, masks and social distancing recommendations/mandates, please stay in Texas.