Coronavirus response
Mask ineffective
Regarding “Anger rises as lives upturned,” (A1, March 13): The picture, front and center, of two travelers exiting George Bush Intercontinental Airport shows the perfect example of how a protective face mask should not be worn. Many pictures of travelers exiting planes, as well as those seen out in public places, show the same incorrect way to wear a mask.
People need to be aware of the proper way to wear a mask as well as how to don and doff a mask. The mask should create a seal around the mouth and nose, and without the seal, you have breached the intent to filter out the droplets that may be spread from a cough or sneeze. If you grab the filter area of the mask with your hand, you have just touched the surface that might have trapped the virus. Touching your face afterward means the mask was completely useless.
It would have been far better to leave the mask on the shelf where it was purchased so that those in high-risk groups would have had the opportunity to use it appropriately.
Cathy Carnes, Houston
Leadership lacking
Regarding “We need real leadership, President Trump,” (A39, March 15): Your editorial today highlighting President Donald Trump’s lack of leadership regarding COVID-19 nailed it. Trump shows on a daily basis he is unfit for the office in which he “serves.” I put that in quotes because this man only knows how to serve himself.
David Kelly, Spring
We are in the middle of a health crisis in this country. Every norm is being broken. The president has declared a national emergency, and we learned he had been waiting for his son-in-law’s brother’s wife’s father’s Facebook group to determine the relevance of the administration’s plan. What planet do we now inhabit? If we think Italy is a model we care to follow, we are definitely on the correct path.
Carol Godell, Spring
Rushed legislation
I find it interesting that Republican U.S. Rep. Randy Weber voted against the coronavirus relief package now nearing consideration in the Senate. The Houston Chronicle quotes him as saying he was “not in favor of passing a bill to find out what is in it,” Rep. Brian Babin complained that he had less than 30 minutes to review the bill and also voted against it.
Both these representatives voted for the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, which was rushed through as well.
Do you suppose these gentlemen forgot how to speed read in the interim?
Kenneth B. Gunn, Magnolia