Should state be locked down to stop virus’ spread?
Public health officials project that Arizona will face serious shortages of intensive-care beds and ventilators needed to treat the rising level of coronavirus patients. At the same time, there is growing concern that the economic downturn also threatens our society.
We asked our “Voices: Engaging Arizona” panel of readers if it’s time to lock down the state to try to reduce the rate of COVID-19 infection. Should Gov. Doug Ducey issue shelter-in-place orders for all but essential businesses and workers in Arizona?
The answer from those who responded as of March 27 was unanimous: Yes.
Linda Lyon, Tucson: Only if you believe in scientific facts. We don’t know everything about the virus, but we do know it is highly contagious and that flattening the curve is critical to reducing the number of infections and deaths.
Yes, this is a scary time and these are very hard decisions, but this is not the time for our leaders to stick their heads in the sand and play it safe. We are counting on them to make the tough calls with all the information at their disposal. It is time for Ducey to do the right thing and lock it down!
Claudia Gilburd, Carefree: I agree
with Linda. Totally.
Sue Raatjes, Phoenix: Yes, Gov. Ducey, lock down our state. Now is the time
to focus on the long-term goal of lessening the impact of this virus. If we continue to do the “tough stuff” now, we will reap the benefits in the future. Our health and the lives of our loved ones depend on it.
Don Watz, Peoria: Yes, lock down the state. There are a lot of facts out there if one chooses to look for them. They are so plain to see that I do not even have to give the details, just a few words or less: “Italy,” “cruise ships,” “Kirkland (Wash.) nursing home,” “New Orleans,” “NBA.”
Thus far, Gov. Ducey has decided to pick and choose what should be closed. This has not worked elsewhere; there is no reason to believe it will work here. Let’s go all-in so we can all go outside soon enough and be healthy. It does end, that is another fact that has been proven in China.
Katrina Martinez, Buckeye: Absolutely. I get that this is a scary thing to put in place, but we have to look at the bigger picture. There are already examples of what can happen if we don’t take action immediately. We all know there are people out there who are not taking this seriously enough. A shelter-inplace order will protect all from the people not social distancing.
Mike McClellan, Gilbert: Tough question, given how poorly the testing has been so far in Arizona compared to neighboring states. But if (Department of Health Services Director Cara) Christ could assure us that sheltering in place for a couple of weeks would seriously flatten the curve, and given that the bailout from Congress would provide a quick aide to closed businesses, I’d say go for it.
It’s gotta be better than what Gov. Ducey has ordered so far, the miniature version of Trump’s apparent plan, to open the country county by county. As if the virus only remains in already affected counties.
Jude Clark, Buckeye: Absolutely, and he has been derelict in not having already done so. Unfortunately, nationally the containment war has been lost while Nero fiddled and lied. But Ducey can help us by issuing the order. Now. Like Linda said, follow the facts wherever they lead. And a note for the governor: Bad news doesn’t get better with age.
Michael McAfee, Mesa: Nobody is calling for the herd to be culled: For us old people and sick people to do our duty, endure the discomfort of the illness and die. You would think in Red State Arizona where Trump is so well revered, there would be more support for Trump’s plan.
It is clear his plan is to “get back to normal” on Easter (just a couple of weeks from today) and for everybody to
stop social distancing, stop sheltering in place, stop the hand-washing and start the hand-shaking. He wants us all to eat in restaurants, drink in bars, go to baseball games and get infected. Once the herd has been culled and the survivors are immune from the virus, life can return to normal.
As one of the old and sick people, I object.
Jude Clark, Buckeye: Me too.
Marjorie Conder, Phoenix: Absolutely, the governor should shut down everything but essential businesses. We will soon see, probably in a week or two, a huge spike in COVID-19 cases in Arizona. Let’s keep people at home to minimize the total number of people who contract this severe illness.
With such a large population of elderly people, our state cannot afford to take chances. People are still going out and seeing friends, and they can easily infect others before they even know they are sick.
Jay Alderson, Phoenix: There is no specific medication to treat the virus. There is no vaccine for those who do not yet have the virus. Locking down seems to be flattening the curve significantly where it is applied. So YES, lock it down.
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