COVIDiots are killing my livelihood

For the record, I am trying to do everything the COVID -19 protocols are demanding. I mask properly, making sure my mouth and nose are fully covered, I hand-sanitize, I try to physically distance even beyond the two-metre minimum, I try to obey the arrows on the floors in stores, I wait for people to move down the aisle. In addition, I do my reduced shopping in off-peak times in stores with high ceilings, wide aisles and good ventilation.

I don't love all this but quite frankly it is my duty and a simple courtesy to help the whole. To quote Commander Spock: “The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few … or the one.”

Yet I encounter many people, ignorant, careless or self-minded and uncaring, seemingly immune to social reason and pressure. Furthermore they seem to equate needs, such as buying food, with mere desires such as suntanning, karaoke or generally carousing.

And would all those cretinous anti-maskers please cover up and at least pretend to care?

Now here's the rub; I am not so worried about getting sick. The real rub is that my business as a performer and teacher in the arts has been scuttled by COVID-19. Every little new ripple or wave of infections created by the careless masses pushes calm career seas even farther and farther out of sight over the horizon. It seems to be out of my control. And I am not alone. Careless and ignorant people are murdering the careers of thousands of performing artists, musicians and teachers like myself. As Mr. Spock intended, get with the program and let's get this over with. Thomas Brawn, flutist & teacher, Orléans