I want to thank Assemblymember Jordan Cunningham (R-San Luis Obispo), along with supervisors and mayors of SLO County, who signed his letter to Gov. Gavin Newsom advocating for a loosening of shelter-at-home restrictions in our county. Given the paucity of COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths, coupled with our high health care capacity, Mr. Cunningham’s request for a “phased reopening of our economy” is reasonable. According to recent reports from Journal of the American Medical Association and the Centers for Disease Control, nearly 90 percent of patients hospitalized for COVID-19 had at least one underlying health condition, while statistics from New York City demonstrate that 88 percent of hospitalizations had two or more chronic illnesses.
While the governor is resisting the call for local control, claiming accurately that the virus knows no jurisdiction, it’s also true that vulnerable populations can be easily identified and protected with continuing shelter-at-home support, while the rest of us return to earning a living. Even in the best of times, many in our county are on the brink financially, and I am concerned about severe and long-lasting financial consequences to these individuals. Economic hardship comes with a well-documented array of negative health outcomes, and I support Mr. Cunningham’s actions to prevent “catastrophic public health issues” that will result from a prolonged shuttering of our economy.
Nicole Dorfman
Morro Bay
This article appears in Apr 30 – May 10, 2020.
Thank you Ms. Dorfman. I totally agree.
The author says we have lots of hospital capacity and, perhaps, lots of cemetery space, so let’s go! Oh, and besides, it’s mostly people who have underlying health conditions who are hospitalized and eventually die, so, hey, expendable, am I right?! Survival of the fittest! Nobody is happy with the negative financial impact on individuals and businesses, but there is more than one way to ameliorate that impact, and the least attractive option is to go full steam ahead and damn the torpedoes, the torpedoes that will kill off the vulnerable among us.
Sounds like age discrimination to Me !!
But then again, I can’t think of Any body I’ve met , that doesn’t have potential underlying issues
…that’s Why they’re underlying..
Its been barely one month…
I’ve occasionally had your generic flus..coughs..etc that hung around longer than that.. Or even a cold that relapsed.
People- Don’t be stupid !!
Patience…👣
What the author kindly left out was that most people, not all, have self induced their underlying conditions. People that choose to live a healthy life style have far better immune systems. Those with a hardy immune system do much better with any illness. Covid-19 is no more challenging than the flu for them. One good reason children do so much better is because they haven’t damaged themselves and continue to build a strong immunities. So those who smoke, drink and eat crappy food should stay at home while those that are more health conscientious shouldn’t be shamed about expressing there freedoms to move about. Fear is nothing more than stress turned inward, thereby creating an even more challenge immune system. For all of those that are fearful I honestly have empathy for you. Why are so many in fear, why should the world stop to satisfy your fears. Please just at home so you are protected. Meanwhile it’s a good opportunity to change so if or when this comes back around you won’t be so stressed. You might even think taking a long walk in the sun is a good idea. Your body and mind will be grateful.