To the editor:
As of April 10, in Minnesota there were 1,336 confirmed cases, 64 deaths, 317 hospitalized. We hear the negatives but not the positives. Every 15 minutes on TV, there is "Breaking News." You hear it so much that you are no longer alerted but depressed! The numbers come from "models" located at places like University of Washington or some other far away place rather than our area. Each "Model" is set up by different people and different rules, collecting different statistics. No wonder the "models" are not consistent. Also, unlike cities in Minnesota, New York has many more people that intermingle, spreading the virus faster to more people. The percentage of people infected in those areas is used to determine infection projections for other places. Obviously, that does not work for areas with less population.
An estimated 32 million have died from HIV Since 1980. Smallpox killed 1 out of 3 infected. Others were left with bad scars or blindness. In 1993, HPS was caught early and kept numbers down but 36% died. SARS, also from bats from China, 9.6% died, MERS, also from bats, 30 to 40%. The U.S. did not shut down from these. Over half of COVID-19 patients have recovered and more will in time; 4% are dying, many with weak immune systems or underlying problems, mostly in their 80s. The flu kills 50,000 each year. We don't shut down for that. This can ruin the economy and destroy small business, the main backbone of our economy and put more people on the street.
The President was advised of this in January but did nothing for two and a half months while it was spreading and people were not informed.
Don't quarantine everyone! Stop unnecessary travel and let people do the essential things, like go back to work!
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Doug Thompson
Alexandria, MN
