Editorial:

Who would have expected this

pandemic to hit us? Most of us
acknowledge Bible predictions of pesti-
lences, but who took it seriously for our
time period? What stories we may tell to
the next generation (if we survive). Yes,
it’s possible that this may be our end. Who knows? Facing reality, we know COVID-19 is dan-
gerous. So, what do we do about it to have a good chance of surviving it?
It has been noted that many people don’t wear masks around others. Also, many peo-
ple don’t wash their hands often. And thinking about “often”, how often? As for me, I don’t
go out much. I take hand sanitizer when I do. Every time I touch something new, I try to wash
my hands soon afterwards or use hand sanitizer. Am I a “clean freak”? Not at all.
How many times have you heard about the “Big 5”? They are 1) wear a mask, 2) social
distance at least 6 feet, and 3) don’t get in large groups and 4) wash hand often and/or use
hand sanitizer, and 5) don’t touch your face. I would like to emphasize to wash your hands or
use sanitizer soon after you touch surface such as door knobs, elevator buttons, etc.
I hope to survive this pandemic. More than that, I expect to survive by avoiding unnec-
essary risks and protecting myself. I try to always remember to wear a clean mask every time
I go outside. Our building management company requires wearing a mask on the premises if
we are outside of our individual apartments. Today it is mandatory statewide in public places.
So, what do I think about that? I think it should have been mandatory a long time ago. Yes,
we live in a free country. I think it is a little too free. When it comes to lives being at risk, I
think all sensible precautions should be enforced. I do not understand people’s reluctance to
wear masks in public. Why do people insist on being so close to others, and why do they con-
gregate in large numbers? I have heard many people say, “I don’t have the Corona Virus” (or
COVID). How do they know they are not asymptomatic with it? According to the CDC, the vi-
rus has been spread by up to 50% of people who were asymptomatic! Do you remember
hearing about Typhoid Mary? She unknowingly spread Typhoid to 53 people. One little cough
or sneeze could end it for someone. You may be asymptomatic and have smokers’ cough.
Therefore, if you cough (as usual), you may think you will not affect anyone. You could un-
knowingly pass on the virus with your “smoker’s cough”. (continued on next page):
.
 The rules don’t seem to me to be too much to ask to help save lives. Even if you get
COVID-19 and survive, how would you dismiss the fact that you spread it to someone who
dies? What if that person is a kid? You may deprive a kid growing up and living a full life be-
cause you didn’t like wearing a mask, wouldn’t social distance, or refused to keep away from
crowds. Can you really take that lightly?
On the flipside, someone may try hard to resist the virus but contract it anyway. That
same person may unknowingly and/or unwillingly pass it on. To me, it is totally forgivable if
that person really tried hard. As for those who are purposely careless, I don’t know what to
say. It’s not up to me to judge them, but I say, “May God help them.”
As for herd immunity: I am not going to purposely get COVID-19 to get to the immune
stage for this way of potentially ridding the virus. It doesn’t make sense to me at all. The only
way I would participate with this is to get a vaccination. However, I have not made up my
mind about it yet. Should I take the first one offered? Should I wait to find out what other
world-wide vaccinations offer? Should I forego it altogether? So, am I skeptical of receiving a
vaccine that has been prepared and passed so early? Yes. However, I don’t want to wait too
long as the longer I wait the greater chance to contract COVID-19. If a vaccine proves to be
95% effective, I am concerned that I would be one of the other 5%. Of 300,000,000 plus popu-
lation in the U.S., 5% would be 150 million people. I am not trying to influence anyone else’s
decision on this point, except I would suggest people eventually get vaccinated. We don’t
know how long the vaccine will be effective. Getting everyone vaccinated at the same time
seems to be the only way to rid the pesky virus forever, but because of distribution problems,
that is not possible today. Also, we have to learn from it because, most likely, more viruses
will come. I encourage anyone who receives the vaccine to continue with the regular precau-
tions to avoid contracting any disease. Don’t take chances. The CDC strives to distribute only
safe vaccines. That’s not to say there won’t be some side effects. However, with precautions
taken, most people should consider the vaccine safer than going without. Yes, there are ex-
ceptions as some people cannot tolerate the flu shots. The CDC confirms that because of age,
health conditions, or other factors, some people should not get certain vaccines or should
wait before getting them. Those susceptible to allergies maybe should forego them.
(continued on next page:)
 Another topic concerns travel, especially holiday travel. I understand that it’s hard to
sacrifice visiting friends or relatives. However, which is more important?: 1) visiting in spite of
the dangers 2) not visiting and playing it safe. If you decide to visit, please isolate for ten days
to two weeks after returning home. If you are sick, get tested and stay home if you have a se-
rious illness (whether COVID, flu, or other serious and contagious sickness).
I want to emphasize the significance of wearing a mask. It should not be so hard. If
women can wear bras and panty hose, people can wear masks.
In closing, I wish to end with two words: “Be safe”.