Editor:
In late February 2020, hardly anyone had heard of the Corona Virus or COVID-19. Since then, it has become a world-wide health and economic disaster.
During the past 18 months, more than 618,000 Americans have died, and worldwide, there have been 4.3 million deaths reported.
All Southeast Georgia Counties are seeing a surge in COVID infections. In Bulloch County alone, at least 124 people have died of COVID. In just the last two weeks, there has been an explosion in the number of new cases in Georgia. On August 9 saw the highest number of new cases since Jan. 15, with 9,327 total cases reported.
Medical experts say that the people who are suffering from COVID-19 infections now are generally younger and sicker than what has been seen before, and the vast majority are unvaccinated people. All of the area hospitals are seeing a large increase in hospitalizations from COVID and the number requiring ICU and ventilators are also at high levels.
When the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines first became available, many people were excited and eagerly awaited their turn to be vaccinated. The percentage of the older population that is protected is fairly high compared to the total population. The side effects seen among those who have vaccinated has been minor — mainly a sore injection site, and tiredness for a couple of days.
Serious side-effects have been extremely rare to non-existent.
As time goes by, the COVID virus continues to mutate, and new variants are likely to adapt and become more infectious, and cause more severe levels of illness; as the delta variant has done.
Achieving wide-spread immunity is the only way to stop this cycle.
Due to the reluctance of people to be protected through full vaccination, there are people among us (including family members, friends, customers, etc.) that are now suffering or may suffer in the future. There are also people who have died or will die as a result of their reluctance to be vaccinated. These ongoing illnesses and future deaths are a self-inflicted and unnecessary disaster.
We all remember too well the shutdown of our economy and the restrictions of everyday life that were brought about by the pandemic last year.
We are beginning to see those effects again, and we can expect a replay of those reactions in the near future. Cabin fever, which we were all tired of until a few months ago, is about to be experienced again.
Many of our elected and political leaders have shown poor to no leadership in their reactions to this problem. Whether that be through ignorance, poor judgement, reluctance to offend, or whatever the reason, it’s time for them to step up to the plate and lead.
It’s also time for all of us to do the right thing for ourselves, our families, our community and the country, and get vaccinated right away. The time for excuses is over. There are no excuses.
Lynn Bennett, Statesboro