Letters to the editor April 5

In the best-case scenario, the COVID-19 pandemic will result in 100,000-200,000 U.S. deaths, according to the White House coronavirus task force. At this level, it will exceed U.S. servicemen deaths in World War II. With no mitigation efforts, public health experts project more than 1 million U.S. residents will die. No matter how Mr. Fuller wishes to spin it (Daily Inter Lake, March 29), COVID-19 is not the annual flu. It is a deadly pandemic that will kill and maim huge numbers — in addition to annual losses from flu and motor vehicle accidents.

I grew up in the Flathead Valley and graduated from Flathead High School. I am not an infectious disease expert, but my training in medicine and public health taught me to respect good science. Mr. Fuller offers dangerous and destructive rhetoric. The recommendations by reputable public health experts are in no way “hysterical.” The foundation of modern epidemic control is built on decades of battle against highly infectious diseases such as smallpox and polio. Recent experiences (SARS, Ebola) have further improved transmission control strategies. While Mr. Fuller battles COVID-19 by exclaiming “Don’t Tread On Me,” I favor the robust science provided by highly experienced scientists.

Mr. Fuller appears to suggest reduced economic harm if COVID-19 is allowed to run its course unmitigated. Would the American economy not notice millions sickened, total collapse of our health system, and chaos and fear disrupting business? Knowledgeable economic experts maintain that the best way to save the economy is to stop the virus. I remain deeply grateful to the first-responders and health-care personnel doing risky frontline battle against deadly COVID-19. The American spirit that takes risk to save others is alive and well and not being subtly destroyed, as Mr. Fuller suggests.

I hope we all follow the science and make necessary sacrifices to save American lives.

—Dr. Adrian Fisher, Somers

The Daily Inter Lake newsroom must have spit up their morning coffee when state Rep. John Fuller, R-Kalispell, sent in his view on the world’s coronavirus response (March 29). I know we did.

How could a person with his power and elected responsibility write such a gaslighting, dangerous, racist, uninformed opinion column? If you didn’t read it: Fuller basically says Montanan’s rugged individuality could easily escape this “Chinese- Wuhan flu” without stay-at-home measures. He complained it’s illogical and “childlike” to be “house arrested” to protect 1% of the population. He also made the debunked false equivalence about banning driving because it might hurt or kill 1% of population. Trump tried that too and his own medical advisors shot it down.

So first, Rep. Fuller, let me ask you which 1% are you willing to sacrifice to this virus so you can move around freely? Second, haven’t you read about examples that tried your way? (Liberty University, Florida’s governor, Italy, Spain, China, the White House? All either ignored or waited and now are paying a steep price). Third, calling it both “Chinese flu” and “Wuhan flu” is blatantly racist. That’s no better than the local Kansas politician who said his town doesn’t yet have the virus because there are no Chinese people living there. Haven’t you seen reports about the backlash against Asian Americans? Or don’t you care because you don’t know any? Also, by calling it the “flu” you gaslight your voters. It’s not a flu. It doesn’t even compare in its contagion or affect on people it takes hold of. It’s been proven repeatedly.

Speaking of hot spots, Rep. Fuller, under your “guidance” what would you do if Kalispell area hospitals saw even less than 1% hit with the virus who needed a bed or ventilator? 90,000 Flathead County residents = 900 at 1%. Got that many beds or medical equipment? How about half that? 450? You good with that?

Yes, the economic toll of this shutdown is/will be devastating. Brutally painful. But it’s being proven that if people follow doctor’s orders to stay home plus social distance, this scourge will be more quickly contained so we can resume our economic based lives.

I envy anyone like you, Rep. Fuller, who is confidently convinced they know better than 100% of the world’s medical experts who are desperately trying to save you from yourself.

—Mark Suppelsa, Bigfork

I am writing in support of Rep. Fuller’s phenomenal letter to the editor March 29. First of all, I admire him for his courage in speaking out truthfully, especially during an election year. That tells me he is a man of principle who will speak the truth, regardless of consequences.

Second, I completely agree with everything he said. He is spot on.

—Julie Martin, Kalispell

Carol Santa’s letter (March 30, Daily Inter Lake) made it very plain that she expected the government to immediately fix all evils and President Trump failed miserably dealing with the corona virus outbreak. On the same page syndicated columnist Byron York pointed out that Joe Biden said Trump’s China travel restrictions showed the president’s hysteria and xenophobia. That got me to checking. The travel restrictions were put in place on Feb.2. Following are some quotes from CNBC’s website post of March 3, one month later. Three key points from the March 3 post:

•The flu remains a higher threat to U.S. public health than the new coronavirus.

•This flu season alone has sickened at least 19 million across the U.S. and led to 10,000 deaths and 180,000 hospitalizations.

•Roughly a dozen cases of the deadly coronavirus have been identified in the U.S., though the number has mushroomed across its outbreak zone in China.

“In the U.S., it’s really a fear based on media and this being something new,” Dr. Jennifer Lighter, hospital epidemiologist at NYU Langone Health, said of the new coronavirus. “When in reality, people can take measures to protect themselves against the flu, which is here and prevalent and has already killed 10,000 people.”

The post had stated that the coronavirus appeared to be twice as deadly (2% mortality) as the seasonal flu (.095% mortality). Dr. Lighter went on to say “I think we’re going to find that the mortality number is going to be lower,” Lighter said. “There is more than likely many times that number of people that have mild (cases) or are asymptomatic.” he then added “It may end up being comparable to a bad flu season.”

Keep in mind that CNBC is certainly not a Trump supporter and yet this reporting downplayed the crisis somewhat fully a month after President Trump took drastic action to protect the U.S. population. Further action from the federal government and states’ governments have been valiant efforts to get ahead of, and deal with, this pandemic. Ms. Santa and others willing to pile criticism on a president performing admirably under unprecedented circumstances should stand back and be thankful they live in this country and do all they can to support elected officials’ efforts to slow down the spread of the virus.

—Gary Goers, Kalispell