Be calm and kind

Sat., May 9, 2020

For those of you who don’t take COVID-19 seriously and want to re-open everything immediately, know this: COVID-19 has killed more people in New York than died on 9/11 by a factor of six. It has killed more Americans than the war in Viet Nam. It is on the way to killing ten times as many Americans as the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan combined.

COVID-19 did all of this in two-and-a-half months.

Economies throughout history have recovered from every disaster. Saving lives is the immediate priority.

Much of what is in the news is not and cannot be precise, but understanding will only come from scientific study. The speculations and wishful thinking of politicians and pundits are irrelevant. Uncertainty is going to be a constant for some time to come. Be calm, be kind, do your best.

Michael S. Tonkyn

Spokane

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