Letter: The governor has given us nothing to fight COVID, but we can do better

Letter writer states we need more 'good citizens getting vaccinated.'


  • By
  • | 3:00 p.m. August 16, 2021
  • Ormond Beach Observer
  • Opinion
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No mask mandate for Volusia County Schools

Dear Editor:

All the talk about individual freedoms and masks during the pandemic by Ron DeSantis reminds me of a lyric from a Kristofferson, Foster song: “Freedom’s just another word for nothin’ left to lose...”

DeSantis has given nothing to Florida residents to help fight the fourth COVID wave; no CDC compliance, no mask mandates for schools, no bringing back State of Emergency to hire medical personnel, and no Delta restrictions.

DeSantis further downplays the virus and uses the “individual” freedom soundbite to justify what amounts to his do-nothing-policy that refuses to adhere to proven safety guidelines. Like it or not, there is no “individual” in his pandemic freedom; we are all in this together. For example: I believe good citizens who are masked, vaccinated, and immune, expect freedom from harm; freedom to move about in public spaces without fear of reinfection by Delta citizen-vectors who refuse vaccinations and masks that protect them and others. These vectors may be asymptomatic, infect others, recover, or die. Sadly for them and DeSantis, in the end, there really is “nothin’ left to lose.”

However, some of us are good citizens and comply with CDC Guidelines. We realize that we have a lot to lose. We know that vaccines and masks work, but not 100%. But we get the jab and wear our masks anyway for our families and for every single person in America. That’s why we need more good citizens getting vaccinated and masking up inside public spaces. Together, we may help build herd immunity, character, and respect between one another. That is something. And it is free.

Sheila Zinkerman

Ormond Beach

Send letters up to 400 words to [email protected]. Letters may be edited for length and clarity.

 

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