Think of the community’s well-being first
Michelle Melendez says that when she looks at the CDC website she sees no reason for concern or compliance with the state and county guidelines for COVID-19 precautions. Exactly what are her credentials or training in infectious disease?
Her conclusions are 180 degrees opposite from the most-respected people in the field who have studied and fought infectious disease their entire careers. She continues to say that COVID-19 has a lower death rate than the flu so this seems to be the basic of her conclusion. The flu accounted for 22,000 deaths in the U.S., according to 2019-20 CDC estimates. COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. in 10 months have surpassed 333,000. She also seems to be against being vaccinated and that is her right. She seems to think that she is a good American citizen and therefore has the right not to obey emergency health guidelines designed to protect the community at large.
I disagree, a patriotic American is one who thinks of the well-being of their community and nation before their own narcissistic actions in speech and behavior. As for the Costco employee who told her to put her mask on, his failing was not to deny her service for fear of confrontation. It is clearly posted to wear a mask by order of the County of Hawaii for she was in violation of that law. Michelle, you wrote in your opinion about COVID-19 being less dangerous than the flu that they were around 100,000 fewer COVID-19 deaths in America. I hope that your God will protect you because your behavior certainly will not.
Leslie Iijima
Waikoloa Village
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