COVID-19, only recently declared a pandemic, has unleashed what the World Health Organization has called an “infodemic.” People are rightfully concerned and looking for information to protect themselves and their community. However, there is a risk that information overload may result in confusion and inappropriate actions. The actions required can be distilled down to four key messages:
■ Don’t infect others. If you have symptoms of COVID-19 — fever, cough and difficulty breathing — take immediate action to avoid infecting others. While other conditions may have similar symptoms (flu, for example), it is always better to err on the side of avoiding spread. We must do better than the member of our community who was under self-isolation for COVID-19 but attended a social event. This uninformed action may have spread the disease and has resulted in many people who attended the event (and their families) enduring the anxiety of waiting helplessly until the end of the 14-day incubation period.
■ Protect yourself. Scrupulously take the recommended actions to protect yourself and your family from infection.
■ Be informed. Follow the latest developments only through authoritative and accurate sources. There are many excellent websites, such as New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (dhhs.nh.gov), the Vermont Department of Health (healthvermont.gov), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (cdc.gov), and the World Health Organization (who.int), all with links to COVID-19 information. The media also plays an important role in providing accurate information. Information from friends and social media can be helpful, but needs to be reviewed for accuracy. You should be suspicious if information is provided without attribution to an authoritative source.
■ Take responsibility. We must all work together to defeat this coronavirus. When SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome), also caused by a coronavirus, exploded on the world scene in 2003, there were several stages to the public reaction. In Beijing, China (and elsewhere), the initial response was uncertainty and fear, followed by panic, and finally, resolve: Together, we can beat this virus. And they did.
ALAN SCHNUR
Lebanon
The writer was team leader, communicable disease control, in the WHO’s China office in Beijing during the SARS outbreak.
Bruce St. Peter’s March 8 Forum letter asked, “Who pays for tuition-free college?” While it is everybody’s responsibility to question where the money comes from for any new policy or programs from either political “side,” it does boggle the mind when programs that would benefit Americans — be it health care or higher education— are deemed “socialist” policies that we could never afford. And yet we have been, and still are, spending tens of billions of dollars every year in Afghanistan alone. Where is the outrage for that program?
The money is there and available. We just choose not to use it for our own good.
GARY HUTCHINS
Enfield
After watching President Donald Trump’s performance in front of the cameras at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last week, where he bragged about his nonexistent capacities as a contagious disease specialist, called Washington state Gov. Jay Inslee — who is dealing with the highest number of American deaths due to the coronavirus so far — a “snake,” and said that the Americans on the cruise ship marooned off San Francisco should stay there rather than be brought ashore so that the “numbers” of coronavirus victims in the U.S. do not increase (and damage him politically), there really is no doubt that he is delusional.
Observing this, and the Republican sycophants who continue to support his destruction of our federal governmental institutions, is a deeply depressing experience.
Just as disturbing is the realization that nearly half the voting population of this country continues to willfully blind themselves to the truth.
ALICE MORRISON
Newbury, Vt.
Quite a while ago, my youngest son, Michael, had throat cancer. He was in the hospital for quite a while. While he was there I paid his rent and, of course, my own also.
After a while, I was finding it hard to do. So I wrote to the senators and tried to get disability for my son. I got only one answer. Bernie Sanders answered in a very short time.
He got disability for my son, and he got it while he was still in the hospital. I was told by many that Michael would have to wait a long time before he got it. Well, Sanders cares about people, and for a while he had someone call me very often to see how my son was doing.
I hope someday soon Bernie Sanders will be president of our country. He is the kind we can trust.
JUNE BROOKS
Windsor