To the Editor:
The Vineyard was quiet just a month ago, and we were worried about what the summer would look like and how the economy of the Island would be affected. It was the same all over the world, not just the country. Memorial Day has come and gone, and we are coming up on the beginning of our typical crazy busy season, with July just weeks away. As I drive around I have noticed a discouraging trend of more than half of the people I see not following the recommended guidelines that we have been given by our state government, to wear masks in public and keep physical distance (who isn’t tired of the term “social distance?”). Most of us have stayed at home, been cautious of our exposure to others, and have been careful to stay safe and healthy. The coronavirus cases seem relatively low here, according to what has been reported. But “the season” is upon us, and consequently, the attitude of “I don’t have it, I’m fine,” and “It’s summer, let’s have fun!” mentality is apparent, allowing for an increase in risky behaviors, exhibited by both visitors and Islanders.
We don’t know for sure how the virus is transmitted, or how it will behave this summer. Even the public health experts admit they don’t know what the pandemic will be like, so they have given us sensible recommendations for taking care of ourselves and one another. We should all be taking care to stay healthy and be considerate of others.
What are we hearing on the Vineyard in terms of how to prepare and how to manage the virus, now that the pace of life has picked up? Crickets. The boards of health are overwhelmed with the myriad components that they must deal with: construction, landscaping, commerce, restaurants, etc. I read in the paper weeks ago that the boards of health were acting together, but they are not communicating to the public what they are doing. In the rush for businesses to get going again, there has been absolutely no coordinated Island response or guidelines given. The rules from one town to another should be uniform, so that you don’t have to wonder whether or not you “have to” wear a mask in Oak Bluffs or Edgartown. The leadership regarding this serious public health crisis has been severely lacking.
What we need is a coordinated public health policy, accompanied by a coordinated public health campaign, created by a public health committee with an appointed leader, with messaging constant and consistent to Islanders and visitors alike. There should be posters on the ferries with safety measures delineated for all to see. All shops should display standardized signs and maintain standardized protocols. Many more people are out and about now, strolling the sidewalks without masks, leaving no room for others to pass on the sidewalk or bike paths. Let’s not discuss the lack of safety down at the harbor in Oak Bluffs, where summer has arrived and people are behaving as if it’s the same old party as every year prior to this. It isn’t.
Who will step up to lead this effort? Once again, the Vineyard retreats to its territorial, independent ways, and it is not serving any of us well in this summer of the unknown. COVID-19 is dangerous and can be lethal. It is not something to be taken lightly or ignored. If only we could come together for once, for the sake of taking care of one another and living up to the idea of “community” that we celebrate as being one of the special things about the Vineyard.
Nicole Brisson
Edgartown
There is no leadership, signage, or working together that can contain stupidity and selfishness. Everyone knows what the guidelines are, but the stupid and the selfish don’t care. Stay home and don’t go out unless you need to. There’s no more strolling or shopping or dining out for those who want to be safe. The stupid and the selfish ruin it for everyone, by being stupid and selfish.
Also, the stupid and selfish do believe the pandemic is over. That’s what being stupid and selfish does to the brain, despite all the news coverage telling them otherwise.
No one expected the pandemic to be over. The premise was always that we flatten the curve and not overwhelm hospitals. We have done that and therefore we should get on with our lives. People over 65 are most vulnerable. 80 percent of Americans who have died of Covid are older than 65 and the median age is 80. The risk climbs for people over 80. Most Americans are safe and for those under 65 it is safer than driving a car to work and getting into a fatal accident. This from various well respected research. We have been given faulty information for three months or more and have made unnecessary lockdowns. If you want to wait for the pandemic to be over that is an entirely different matter. Jackie does but most of us dont harbor that fantasy.
No one expected the pandemic to be over? Lol. Andrew, have you heard of some idiot named Donald Trump? The 15-cases-would-soon-be-zero-Trump?People who listened to the idiot thought the pandemic would be over by April, you know, when it got warmer outside. People are commenting on here that the worst is over, while more that 20 states that have reopened are surging horribly. Yeah, people who are stupid and selfish think it’s mostly over. Your comments are so filled with untruths that I can barely keep from laughing.
But quick question. You’ve said you believe the prayers of evangelicals were answered when you prayed that Trump be elected. Has your cult ever thought of praying to your god to end this plague?
Every day Jackie I pray to end this pandemic and millions like me do it also. The worst is over. We are testing more and more and finding more cases but they dont result in a spike in deaths. We will have deaths but it will be mostly elderly with underlying conditions. The rest of us can go about our business. I am 76 with no conditions except deranged conservatism and it hasnt hit me yet.
How’s that praying working out for us Andrew ?
Perhaps you and millions like you are praying to the wrong god.
Or perhaps god has nothing to do with this.
Why is it ok in your mind to let a few hundred thousand elderly or vulnerable people die , or have to “trump”( I am using “trump” as a verb) in their basements, so the “rest of us” can pass this around and only kill 20 % of the population.
Wearing a mask helps– is that too much to ask to save the lives of thousands of people ?
Andrew– just to reply to you assertion about it being more dangerous driving to work.
First, there are about 33,000 deaths by auto in this country in a year.
There are no readily available statistics about how many of these deaths occurred “on the way to work”. One would suspect though, that since 10,500 of those deaths are attributable to alcohol alone, and many more due to driver inattention, it would be reasonable to assume there are likely no more than 1,000 people under the age of 65 killed while on their way to work every year .
Compare that to the people who have died from covid 19 in less than 4 months.
Also, I don’t know where you get your statistics, but according to the CDC , 18,453 Americans under the age of 65 have died from this as of June 10 th.
That’s the equivalent of a 9/11 death toll every 2 weeks– of people under the age of 65.
https://data.cdc.gov/NCHS/Provisional-COVID-19-Death-Counts-by-Sex-Age-and-S/9bhg-hcku
There were people with mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, extended families and friends.
You trivialize their deaths, Andrew– you who profess to hold all life as sacred–
At least you aren’t telling us we are more likely to get killed by lightning, as I have heard people state on “conservative” radio.
But you’re close.
Nicole, you have summed it up perfectly. Your letter should be printed on the front page and sent to every local business. I visit every year and I am truly concerned about what things will be like next month when my family stays for a week. That is, if we don’t cancel. I would say that if people continue to flout the advice of the CDC, we might just stay home. I truly want to help support the local economy there, but if there is still no protocol to keep islanders and visitors safe, I’m not sure I’d feel comfortable with that level of risk.
Thank you Nicole, you are absolutely correct on all counts. The 6 separate towns approach to this nonsensical and infuriating. No signage on the ferries is just plain negligent. This is not a criticism of the Boards of Health, they’re doing the best they can. But when will this island grow up and start regionalizing these things???
It is an order from the Governor: https://www.mass.gov/news/wear-a-mask-in-public
And I forgot to mention putting signs on the sidewalks, not just the storefronts. I got a note from the All Island Task Force that there has been a group working on some of these concerns, but my point is why has their work not been publicized? This is not a private matter, but an island-wide public health situation.
“…in public places where social distancing is not possible.” People clearly are missing this point. Yes, many people aren’t wearing masks who should be – because they are coming within a close proximity to someone. However, we need to use common sense people…if you’re walking down a path to a beach and no one is within 100 yards of you, there is no need to wear a mask. However, I continually hear/read/see people scoffing at others who they see without a mask on, and they aren’t anywhere near anyone else. It’s ridiculous.
If you’re not near anyone, then of course you don’t have to wear a mask. But if you see people approaching, it is the respectful and safe thing to keep one with you (you pocket, your hand, around your ears but on your chin) and put it on. It’s not ridiculous. It’s common courtesy and respect. Think of it that way and maybe you’ll change your mind. The island community hopes so.