Letter: I’m at-risk, but some restrictions are too harsh

Musicians from the local musical group SunShade n’ Rain sing while interacting with senior citizens during an outdoor concert at Solstice Senior Living in Sandy on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2020. | Yukai Peng, Deseret News

As a 71-year-old, I am in an identified at-risk category for COVID-19. I have been careful to follow all recommended precautions to protect myself and others. As I have observed the response of our national and local government leaders relative to restrictions, I have wondered when the philosophy of the restrictions moved from “flattening the curve so we don’t overwhelm our health care system” to “no one can get sick.”

We should not be surprised that people get sick from the virus. However, even with a recent spike in cases, the hospitals are not at risk of being full, and the death rate of those with the virus continues to decline. The key indicators for decisions should be the ability of our health care system to care for serious cases and a declining death rate, not the number of positive tests for the coronavirus. Some of the restrictions seem punitive and illogical, and only continue to affect our economic strength and the holding of responsible activities.

Richard McCune

Kearns

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