Please, fellow citizens, start taking coronavirus seriously. Stay home.

By Staff

Updated March 16, 2020 5:44 PM

Faced with an increasing number of coronavirus cases, N.C. health officials are now recommending against having gatherings of more than 50 people. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has called for cancellation or postponement of all gatherings of more than 50 people for the next eight weeks. Robert Willett rwillett@newsobserver.com

Everyone must take this virus seriously

Like most people, I’m a bit anxious about the COVID-19 pandemic. After being cooped up all day, I went for a stroll through SouthPark Mall, careful not to touch anything.

It was discouraging to see so many people lounging on the couches and chairs, oblivious to virus particles likely lying there. Dozens of folks stood crammed into restaurant waiting areas, most of them casually opening the doors with bare hands.

Fellow citizens, please take this seriously. Even young, healthy people can die from this. You can carry it to your elderly parents and grandparents. Stay home unless absolutely necessary. Keep your distance in public. Wash those hands, often. Use common sense for everyone’s sake.

Dr. George Bohmfalk, Charlotte

Halt air travel to NC from hotspots

As of Saturday all the COVID-19 cases in North Carolina appeared travel related. A few were tied back to international travel, but the majority were the result of domestic travel.

So while restricting travel from Asia and Europe is important, it does not address the largest source of COVID-19 risk to North Carolina: travel to and from U.S. areas where COVID-19 is spreading rapidly.

It is imperative that Gov. Roy Cooper take action to restrict, if not halt, air travel between North Carolina and major domestic virus hotspots: metro areas of Seattle, New York City, Boston, and San Francisco. Those steps could include urging or requiring N.C. businesses to defer employee travel to those areas, using infrared thermometers to monitor passengers upon arrival from hotspots, and requesting N.C. hotels to cancel reservations from residents of those areas.

We cannot hope to drain the COVID-19 swamp anytime soon if we continue to allow new and unknown cases to flow into our state.

Douglas MIller, Cornelius

It’s clear now that Trump can’t lead

A major question for the last three years has been whether President Trump can handle a real national crisis. Sadly, the answer is no.

When we needed clear and accurate information, we got an Oval Office address immediately followed by multiple corrections. While our country does 1,000 tests a day, a much smaller South Korea is doing 10,000. And when we need unity and leadership, our president calls Washington state’s governor a ”snake” and tells the vice president “not to be nice to him.”

Hopefully, warm weather in spring will rid us of coronavirus, and in November voters will rid us of Trump.

Benne Hutson, Charlotte

Glad to see someone like Fauci step up

Ironic how a microscopic organism, COVID-19, can cause such chaotic consternation around the world. But along comes a bigger than life little man called Anthony Fauci, a 79-year-old physician who many view as the second coming of Christ. Not too sure about that analogy, but if Fauci can help get a handle on COVID-19 he certainly will become my Superman.

Barry Marshall, Charlotte

This would bring stability and calm

The presidency and the Congress are institutions. The people who occupy these positions are merely humans. Embedded in the Constitution, these institutions and the process for passing leadership in the event of impairment or death are what provide stability and calm in times of duress. This process cannot be politicized or impeded.

So, I would advocate coronavirus testing of the president and his three successors – vice president, speaker of the House, and president pro-tempore of the Senate – every 90 days with a report to the public. Certainty breeds calm.

John Mason, Matthews

Waiting on that Hawthorne bridge

Regarding “Hawthorne Lane bridge opening again delayed in Charlotte,” (March 16):

The Charlotte Area Transit System has announced that the Hawthorne Lane bridge over Independence Boulevard will reopen in late July or early August. The rebuilding of this modest span began in 2017.

Just to provide some historical perspective, the Golden Gate Bridge was constructed in four years (1933-1937). It also took four years to build the George Washington Bridge (1927-1931), which was eight months ahead of schedule.

Perhaps Charlotte Transit can find some consolation in the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge, which required 13 years (1870-1883) - though the Hawthorne Lane bridge is still closed, so we’ll have to wait and keep our fingers crossed.

Richard Mattson, Charlotte

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This story was originally published March 16, 2020 at 2:48 PM.