How to beat the COVID-19 coronavirus: Widespread testing, and follow-up | Letters
Fighting COVID-19 requires widespread testing of all those with symptoms of infection or exposure to it. Rapid follow-up for all contacts of those with the virus, with testing of contacts and, if indicated, repeat testing to minimize false negatives, is essential.
Those with no indication of contagious infection can be allowed to resume normal activities such as work and shopping. When COVID-19 cases do occur, they must be immediately isolated as above. Avoiding crowds and some social distancing will still be prudent for a time.
These tests are finally becoming more available.
Effective testing will require quickly mobilizing needed resources and removing all barriers to testing and follow-up, including confidentiality.
This is a costly commitment but is far cheaper than the massive loss of jobs and businesses caused by shutdown and widespread isolation.
COVID-19 will be with us for a very long time. With widespread testing we can find it, fight it, and beat it.
John W. Gray III MD
Beaufort
Hilton Head Town Council shirks duties to citizens
I am appalled by the Town Council’s lack of fortitude to stand up and protect the residents of Hilton Head Island. Their recent capitulation to financial pressure saw them put fear of litigation ahead of lives.
No such fear existed when non-essential business were ordered to close, putting thousands out of work with extreme economic impact to those businesses. But pressure from a for-profit group and they shirked away from their duties.
It’s shameful and will not be forgotten.
Eric Bretzel
Hilton Head Island
Hilton Head Town Council spineless
Well, once again our mayor and Town Council (except for Tamara Becker, thank you for your “no” vote) have thrown the Hilton Head Island residents to the wolves.
In this case, the wolves are any and all of the rental companies and owners who “threatened to sue” the town for trying to protect our Hilton Head citizens from greater exposure to the COVID-19 coronavirus.
This is so disappointing. There are times in our lives when you just have to stand up and do the right thing, and this was one of them.
Kudos to Ms. Becker for trying to do that. We are thrilled that she is our representative.
As for the mayor and the rest of council, they will forever be remembered for this show of cowardice. What will they do when one of their constituents gets the virus, and then sues the town over this decision? I pray, for their sakes, that it’s not a member of their own family.
Seriously, could they be more spineless?
Donna Vaughn
Hilton Head Island
People have the wrong ideas about golf
With stay-at-home orders the rule of the day as we collectively endure the coronavirus pandemic, some non-golfers seem to think that golf is still a white-bread sport played only by the rich and famous at posh country clubs.
Nothing could be farther from the truth.
Golf is played by millions with no access to country club courses, most often on municipal or semi-private courses on a daily fee basis.
Golf is excellent exercise in the open air when players walk (which, unfortunately, has mostly given way to motorized golf carts). For golfers who don’t want to walk but want to practice social distancing, some courses offer a single-rider option for a small additional fee.
So, if you’re a non-golfer, dig granddad’s old clubs out of the garage and get out on the course. You may not play very well, but I guarantee you will enjoy yourself.
Roger Elmore
Beaufort
Hilton Head’s flip on short-term rentals bad for islanders
The recent reversal by the Hilton Head Island mayor and Town Council concerning short-term rentals is unfortunate for our community.
Rather than doing the right thing, they let an inconsiderate “special interest” group of short-term renters and their agents, who were threatening possible lawsuits, place themselves in a position where the best interests of our community was put second.
Why are their perceived business rights more important than the community’s general welfare? On what basis is a short-term rental business more “essential” than a restaurant, bar, hair studio, retail store, health club, or numerous other businesses that have been asked to close for the benefit of the community?
When all else fails, the chosen path is to threaten a lawsuit and watch governmental officials run.
I simply do not get it, other than they have a position of more power in our community’s government.
One council member, Tamara Becker, chose to counter the bullies and their lawsuit threats. Our thanks should go to her for speaking out.
Many lives are being impacted by COVID-19 but island rental companies simply believe they should go on with business as usual because they are special.
David T. Fronek
Hilton Head Island
Town Council makes wrong decision for Hilton Head
We became permanent residents of Hilton Head Island in 2017. We love so many things about our island: the beautiful tides and landscapes of our beaches, the great neighborhoods, wonderful churches, and especially our neighbors who we care about as we hunker down together.
I was saddened to see our political leadership cave in to the investors and short-term rental interests recently by opening back up our island to short-term renters. Is it so difficult to have the courage to take a stand and say “no” to the money until the end of May?
Quality of life is what sets us apart from other beach communities. This 12-mile island was developed by some great companies but there comes a time when the scales become weighted too much to making interests wealthy at the expense of our quality of life.
I hope the permanent residents of this island will remember in the voting booth these politicians who lack moral courage and commitment to this island. They all need to be thrown out and replaced with citizens who pledge to care about the protection of our island and the well-being of our great residents.
We are happy to have families visit, but it will take those of us who live here to protect our homes.
Let’s make Hilton Head Island great again!
Craig Hollowell
Hilton Head Island
Analogy for flattening the curve
The reality of the flattening of the curve for COVID-19 might benefit from an analogy:
If we had a flood and the water gradually rose above the rooftops, at which time it flattened out and stayed above the rooftops, not going any higher, would our troubles be over at that point?
And when the water finally started to come down and got to the level of the attic, would it be time to party, get the car out of the garage and go out on the town?
I rest my analogy.
Tom Dorsel
Hilton Head Island
God bless the children
It’s not often that something on my bike ride brings tears to my eyes, but last week something definitely did.
As I was riding along the Dillon and Beach City roads bike paths on Hilton Head Island, trying to banish pandemics and bitter politics from my mind, I encountered two areas where children had used colored chalk to write messages and artwork on the pavement. Graffiti, you say? Defacing public property?
Absolutely not! What these little ones had written were amazingly tender, loving, and uplifting messages that I wish every reader of this paper could see for themselves.
Typical ones were “Smile,” “Have Hope,” “Stay Home,” “Have Faith,” etc., with a generous number of stars, rainbows, and a big sun.
Afterward, I went back and took pictures because I know I’ll need their inspiring messages later.
I’ll never meet these children or be able to thank them, but I absolutely adore them for their sweetness and encouragement. May God bless and watch over all of them!
Henry V. Sanders
Hilton Head Island
Help the hospital: Stay at home until ‘all-clear’ is given
Toward the end of February, I got out of bed one day and something was wrong. I had lost my legs for a short time and was very weak. My wife called 911 and I began to use the very medical system that I was part of for a number of years. The ambulance was there momentarily and the EMS technicians were what we all know they are: professional, compassionate and competent.
They took me to Hilton Head Hospital and I was moved through the ED by more professional and caring staff. I was put in isolation with influenza A for three days and slowly got better.
Everyone I met was great.
I couldn’t help but notice while in isolation, the number of times that staff had to put on protective equipment every time they came in my room. This included housekeepers, dietary workers, doctors and nurses. I don’t know how many gowns, masks and gloves were used to make me safe. It was plenty!
I hope what we see going on these days does not happen here. It would be a shame. No nurse, ever, should have to enter a patient room without being fully protected from whatever they are going to encounter.
We are blessed to have this great hospital. Let’s do our part during this time of crisis. Stay home for their sake until the “all clear” is given. We have a great hospitals here. Let’s help them out by staying home.
Mark O’Neil
Hilton Head Island
(The writer is former CEO of Hilton Head Regional Healthcare.)
Printed newspaper an anchor in life greatly appreciated now
Thank you for continuing to publish the print edition of The Beaufort Gazette, especially during these difficult and uncertain times. While I have access to your online edition and rely on digital news sources throughout the day for updates, I have always chosen to start my day with a print edition of the newspaper.
My grandfather, who lived in Chicago, said “it isn’t a day without ‘the Trib,” as he read his newspaper during breakfast. My 98-year-old mother, yet living independently in Iowa, relies on the same start to her day with the Cedar Rapids Gazette. As it is for me, also. It isn’t a “day” without The Beaufort Gazette in the morning.
Thank you to your delivery persons who have consistently brought the print edition to our doorstep; to your columnists who continue to provide us with much-needed local and statewide reports; and for the opportunity, particularly now, to have the consistency of a “real paper” in my hands, every morning, as I start the day.
During these times, your newspaper, for me, is really more than “just the paper.” It is a handheld, daily reassurance of routine – of what was and remains consistent in our lives.
Jane Sidwell
Beaufort
Target origins of pandemics: Animal cruelty
What started all of this? COVID-19 coronavirus, swine flu, SARS, etc.
Answer?
Anyone?
Two words: Animal cruelty.
We are not good stewards of this planet. Just look at our own backyard. Just look what we allow on our beaches.
It has to stop.
Mary Claire Simmons
Hilton Head Island
Trump reveals he has no character
Dwight Eisenhower prepared a statement to be released in case D-Day failed. In it he said, “any blame or fault ... is mine alone.”
Harry Truman famously said, “The buck stops here.”
Demi Moore’s character in “A Few Good Men” said, “Those Marines stand on the wall and promise. Nothing will harm you ... not on my watch!”
Pete Buttigieg, when asked during a national debate if he improved race relations in South Bend, said “I didn’t get it done.”
President Donald Trump’s statement concerning the coronavirus outbreak response failures: “I don’t take responsibility at all.”
That quote will be in history books 100 years from now, alongside Truman’s, “The buck stops here.”
Finally, a saying that is on a thousand locker-room walls: “Adversity does not build character, it reveals it.”
Charles Cornett
Beaufort
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