VOICE OF THE PEOPLE

MORE TESTING

Yesterday, I called 811 and asked to be tested for the coronavirus. The telephone responder politely asked my name, age and a series of questions to determine if I had any symptoms. I did not and, as a result, she politely declined my request to be tested.

The reality is there are many people who could be infected with the virus without symptoms. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control put the figure at 25 per cent and the U.S. Vice Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff, Gen. Hyten, stated that it may be as high as 70 per cent in military personnel.

The only way to know who is infected and could therefore possibly transfer the disease in a population is to screen everyone.

Morris Givner, Halifax

HONOURING ABBIGAIL

I had the honour of standing by the road, with a naval ensign fluttering in the cold wind, waiting for the body of Sub-lt. Abbigail Cowbrough to pass by on the way to be buried. We got there about 6 p.m. The sun was out. We did not see many people. We did not expect hardly anyone to show up.

A fellow veteran came up to the corner and, of course, we had to stay separated by the new legal distance. He said he wanted to pay his respects to a fellow veteran who had lost her life while in the service for Canada. He asked if I served and I said yes. The temperature was getting colder. My wife and I were getting cold and stiff. But stay, we did.

Gradually, more people started showing up, including navy, air force and even some army people in uniform. The RCMP was there to take care of the traffic. After two hours of waiting, RCMP officers cleared the roads for the funeral to go along its way. By this time, many people took the time to show their respects to our fallen veteran.

The passing funeral procession was escorted by RCMP and navy vehicles. People stood to attention; older veterans saluted. Following the hearse were many, many veterans on motorbikes from the Veterans Bikers Club. They just kept passing; I lost count of their exact number. There were people all along the route from the airport to where she would be laid to rest.

A huge lump developed in my throat; I pray her parents are OK and can heal from this tragedy in their life. And I say a big thank you to the Veteran Bikers, police and the people who honoured one of their own. She is in God’s hands now. Amen.

Rick Mills, Dartmouth

LACK OF DISTANCING

I watched with disbelief on CTV News last evening a video on the procession for the late Sub-lt. Abbigail Cowbrough on the Highway of Heroes from the Halifax airport. It showed dozens of motorcyclists mulling around, talking to each other before it began. There was no social distancing, plus it was a very large gathering.

Why was that allowed during COVID-19 restrictions, when even a funeral or wedding is only supposed to allow groups of no more than five people?

Donna Macneil, Onslow Mountain

MORE INFORMATION

Many thanks to Bill Black (“Nova Scotia must be flexible while easing COVID-19 restrictions,” May 9) for reporting the western region of Nova Scotia hasn’t reported a new case of COVID-19 in over 14 days.

One has to wonder when the government was planning on revealing this good news. If the Department of Health and Wellness is interested in the general population’s mental and emotional health, they should stop treating us as children or, worse yet, mushrooms. George Barron, Bear River