I am a family physician practicing in Randolph and I am writing in regards to an article in the April 12 Sunday Valley News, “Vt. doctor questions cloth masks.”
The article clearly describes the controversy over whether cloth masks are effective in stopping the spread of the new coronavirus. Dr. Tim Lahey, of the University of Vermont Medical Center, questions the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Vermont Department of Health that the public wear masks. The World Health Organization does not recommend widespread wearing of masks.
The important thing that needs to be said is that this virus is labeled the “novel” coronavirus for a good reason: It is a new virus and we do not know much about it. We are learning and studies are ongoing, but we do not know enough at this time and that is why there are competing recommendations.
We have observed that Hong Kong and Singapore did not have the severe disease burden we are seeing in Italy and in New York City. Dr. Ho Pak-leung, head of the University of Hong Kong’s Centre for Infection, highlighted universal mask use as one of the reasons widespread outbreaks did not occur there.
We also know that the virus can be transmitted from asymptomatic people 48 hours before becoming symptomatic. This is a very contagious and deadly virus. It makes sense to cover our faces so we do not spread or contract the virus via respiratory droplets.
It is not clear at this time whether cloth masks are as efficacious as surgical masks. I just hope that Vermont and New Hampshire do not suffer like other areas, and until we know more, I believe, as the Vermont Department of Health recommends, that universal mask wearing as well as frequent hand washing and social distancing, will help prevent a severe outbreak.
KEN BORIE
Randolph
Biomass pollution is not needed in the Upper Valley, or anywhere. Decades ago, the New Hampshire Legislature defined biomass burners, along with their smokestacks, as a renewable energy source and offered the biomass and waste incineration industry hefty subsidies. Clean energy sources in the 21st century do not require smokestacks, nor, increasingly, do they require subsidies to compete with carbon-based fuels for energy production. Combustion technology, even that touted as “state of the art,” does nothing to improve public health or air quality. State and federal regulations permit industrial wood and bio-oil burners to emit a cocktail of pollutants to the atmosphere.
A recent Harvard University School of Public Health report links worse impacts of the novel coronavirus to areas with higher levels of air pollution. The New York Times article on the study states, “Coronavirus patients in areas that had high levels of air pollution before the pandemic are more likely to die from the infection than patients in cleaner parts of the country, … the first clear link between long-term exposure to pollution and COVID-19 death rates.”
What better time for Dartmouth College to nix plans for a polluting biomass incineration plant? Why would any community invite higher levels of the microscopic particulates released by biomass plants into the air we breathe?
The Times article notes that “just a slight increase in long-term pollution exposure could have serious … consequences, even accounting for other factors like smoking rates and population density.” Sure, we may or may not encounter another pandemic that attacks the respiratory system, but do we want to risk worsening our air quality either way?
Tell Dartmouth no biomass incineration. Please visit the Upper Valley Clean Air Committee website (uvcac.org) for more research on the dangers of biomass.
LAURA SIMON
Wilder
The writer is a member of the Upper Valley Clean Air Committee.
Now that a dauntless presidential candidate has identified himself, it’s time for “Sleepy Joe” to step aside. You have to fight fire with fire, and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has it, former Vice President Joe Biden does not.
The object is to win, and to remove the person with the narcissistic personality disorder from office. Biden can’t do that, but he can help Cuomo do so, and gain even more respect than he has now.
Come on Joe, it’s a dogfight and that’s not you.
DICK MACKAY
Hanover
We are so happy to see Henry Homeyer writing again in the Valley News (“Tree Trimmings: Proper pruning allows more fruit to grow,” April 11). His wisdom and insights have long helped and motivated us to grow tasty vegetables, to urge beauty to sprout from the ground and to encourage wildlife in our yard. Since you stopped carrying his column, we’ve had to chase him around the Upper Valley to learn from him. Many thanks for bringing him home! Please, please keep him in your pages.
PAT GLOWA and DON KOLLISCH
Hanover