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LETTER: COVID-19 responses vary, but goal should be the same

My husband has been doing the grocery shopping by himself….
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To the Editor,

My husband has been doing the grocery shopping by himself. He has noticed that wearing a mask and being compliant seems to lead to extremes of shaming or respect—something like bringing out the best or worst of people.

We give two thumbs up to the grocery stores we frequent—seniors’ hours help a lot. Thumbs down to the gas meter reader and city workers at Harbour Quay for not wearing masks.

Definitely two thumbs down to our gas stations for being the slowest to adjust gas prices down As for restaurants and drive-thrus: do the people in the cars and the ones at a window wear a mask? Will waiters/waitresses wear masks as they go table to distanced table once restaurants reopen? How will they handle washrooms?

There are so many “i’s” and “t’s” not yet dotted or crossed Maybe anyone dealing with the public—make that anyone in public—for now should wear a mask until we know more about coronavirus. With everything in the news being so conflicting, we just don’t know enough.

Until proven otherwise we are all carriers, symptomatic or not. We are all stewards of each other. If everyone everywhere in public had a mask we could shop, walk, play, visit, etc. with a level of comfort. Masks aren’t the be all and end all, but they help. Not everyone respects social distance and moves over when walking, but if masked it wouldn’t matter so much or take the fun out of getting out.

Never in all my time have we responded like this. While the economists argue full steam ahead, I say modify: we can all wear masks and wash hands. I also say share information—that applies to researchers, drug companies and academics alike.

Maybe we got too complacent with antibacterial soap, hand sanitizers etc. Super bugs? WTH! Now our hospitals are rethinking cleaning methods and people are advocating to stay home if you are sick.

We are all in this together. Here’s hoping we’ll have some answers soon.

Ruth John,

Port Alberni