Why are we surprised?

Why are health officials, politicians, and the media so surprised that as we begin to resume life virus infections are increasing? CNN and every newspaper with a name ending in “Times” is shouting that rising case counts prove we are opening up too soon.

This is nonsensical. Whenever states open back up cases will rise because no vaccine exists, and the virus is not extinct. Should we put our entire economy on hold for a year, two years, or more until we have a viable vaccine or the virus runs out of gas? NO! We must stay the course. Sure, we need to continue to protect our most vulnerable using the oft repeated methods, but let’s get back to work. People who are sitting around their homes with nothing to do begin to think up ridiculous ideas like: Let’s tear down all the monuments; Let’s rename every possible public entity that in any way, shape or form could be considered racist or hurtful; Let’s search back in the records for as long as possible for something, anything, that someone may have said that could be considered even slightly hurtful. Then let’s shame them, boycott them, and make them squirm and beg forgiveness.

Or, why don’t we just forget all that crap and get on with our lives, knowing that yes, some people will indeed die from the virus sooner rather than later. We aren’t preventing anything; just delaying it and making fools of ourselves while we do it.

Hal Dixon

Spokane