Being safe during COVID: Letters to the editor, May 22, 2020

People need to take responsibility

I went to the post office and unfortunately I saw a line of 10 persons ahead of me. They were somewhat spaced out, but to my amazement, beside myself, only two of them had masks or even kerchiefs on!

Viewing some of the protest pictures, about the same percentage of unprotected were there. How can we reopen America, and get back to work, when so many people have no idea of personal protection or responsibility?

Dangerous to go out to eat

I will not be dining in at any reopened restaurants until I believe it is safe. I do not doubt nearly all restaurant owners and staff will do their best (at least at first) to keep customers safe by wiping surfaces, wearing face masks and encouraging social distancing. However, I do not believe that there is any way to keep staff safe from the patrons.

Inside diners cannot wear face masks while they are eating and drinking and watching the entitled protesters not follow CDC guidelines. I do not believe all patrons will be courteous to other patrons or staff.

I will not be dining inside restaurants for an unknown period of time because I care about the safety of your sons and daughters cooking, waiting tables, serving drinks in what is inherently for now an unsafe environment.

Need trust, honesty in city leaders

Healthy economies require trust. More specifically, small businesses owners must have a great relationship with their clients and customers as well as their suppliers. In a deadly health crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic we are all going through, instead of being safe and patient, the (Waffle Shop) restaurant owner Ammar Ibrahim decided to take matters into his own hands and open up his eating establishment for dine-in service.

He did this despite being clearly warned by city of Fresno code enforcement that Mr. Ibrahim was out of compliance with current city and state health-care protocols to provide protection to the population at large.

I certainly do not appreciate council member Garry Bredefeld calling Mayor Brand’s compliance with state law “authoritarian.” As every sixth-grader knows, the preamble to the Constitution says a purpose of government is to, among other things, provide for the general welfare. Mayor Brand and Gov. Newsom are doing the very best to provide and protect all of our general welfare.

We need trust and honesty in leadership in medical science. Not cheerleaders for the MAGA nation like Bredefeld. A virulent virus knows no political party, has no faith in a divine sovereignty. The virus has but one job. Infect, make ill. Any questions?

This story was originally published May 22, 2020 at 6:00 AM with the headline "Being safe during COVID: Letters to the editor, May 22, 2020."