Downplaying of virus threat is concerning

Upon reading recent statements from some North Idaho politicians, I am deeply concerned for the well-being of our area. We are facing a health care crisis that we have yet to fully comprehend. It has not impacted Idaho severely … yet. In North Idaho, we have very few cases … so far. Currently, Idaho has 18 confirmed deaths and over 1,200 confirmed cases. We have tested 12,000 people out of Idaho’s total population of 1.79 million — a paltry 0.6%.

We have an opportunity in North Idaho to “flatten the curve” and minimize the impact our health care system and infrastructure by utilizing social distancing and following the governor’s guidelines. This necessary preparation comes with significant cost that should not be underestimated or understated but prevention of this magnitude is necessary for our community. These include eliminating gatherings for events, closing schools and daycares, canceling assemblies, and apparently worst of all suspending church services. Without mitigation, the president’s task force estimates up to 2 million deaths nationwide. Even with mitigation, the estimate is 100,000. This is not just another flu, this is much worse. Recently, a church in Kootenai County ignored these guidelines and held services led by Idaho Rep. Tim Remington even after two members of the congregation had tested positive for COVID-19. In his words “I don’t want to be foolish with all this.” Too late.

As of this writing, our president said the projected numbers “are very sobering, and when you see 100,000 people, and that’s a minimum. “A hundred thousand is, according to modeling, a very low number.” “This is not the flu,” Trump said. Some executives with “great common sense” suggest we “ride it out.” He added “This is not to be ridden out.” Enough said.

Unfortunately our local officials want to put our community in jeopardy and regard their ideologies over the welfare of their constituency. We should not be “going on with our normal business,” thank you very much, Sheriff Wheeler. This pandemic is new and dangerous with limited treatment options, no vaccine, and is highly contagious. We need to be ready, we need drastic measures, this is no drill. “Rely not on the likelihood of the enemy’s not coming, but on our own readiness to receive him.” -Sun Tzu.

This disease is not a “hoax” as Heather Scott puts it. Pandemics are not Santa Claus, they don’t require your belief in them to exist. Our neighbors in Washington can attest to that. Her rhetoric undermines the tireless work and sacrifice of first responders, emergency workers, health care workers, and all other “essential” warriors in this crisis. We must not push back against good advice but rather push back against these ideologues. The Idaho way is to do the hard thing, which is often the right thing. So we must prepare for a long war against this virus even if our supposed leadership is not. Teddy Roosevelt said “The object of government is the welfare of people.” Anything less than that is unacceptable and shall be remembered.

CODY MONTGOMERY

Sandpoint