Opinion : Letter to the Editor: Covid-19 pandemic

Editor,

As I approach my 78th summer on this planet I have been encouraged to remain at home, but if I leave to purchase food, medications or adult beverages I am to maintain at least a six foot distance from other humans.  So, what have we learned so far?  The spread of this virus is not curtailed in Italy, and is growing in New York, Washington State, and California.  We have had a few cases in Johnson and Linn counties, and we should expect other areas in our locality to experience infection.  Factually person to person transmission will continue until there is a flattening of the “curve”.  When that will occur is not known nor even speculated, so we must continue to be on guard.  Eventually the virus will die out as it requires a human host to survive and multiply.  Even though many in the White House advised and many Democrats criticized the move to restrict travel from Europe and China these actions were the right course; this act given in January while Congress was embroiled in Impeachment proceeding gave our medical practitioners time to prepare.  Also weeks later closing our Southern and Northern border was again the right move.  It is unfortunate that our bureaucrats moved initially too slowly, but it seems to me they are doing their very best to catch up.  Giving the green light to States to move faster if able was another good decision.  Also many manufacturers that have the ability are switching their manufacturing to medical masks and protective clothing and equipment.  Much like what happened in WWII.  An Amen to 3M and others!  But, we have also learned that the distribution system in place can give rise to price gouging.  I recommend that a government entity purchase these items directly from the manufacturer at a reasonable price and distribute these items to the states and localities where needed.

It also appears that many who are below the age of 55 and with no underlying health problems have a relatively mild case.  Older citizens and those with pulmonary disorders, like myself, are at much greater risk of a serious illness. 

 I have heard that older citizens have a much more mature immune system which seems to work against the body in that the lungs are susceptible to pneumonia.  Fluid in the lungs seems to be the leading cause of fatalities. Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), sold under the brand name Plaquenil, is a medication used for the prevention and treatment of certain types of malaria and has shown to inhibit the auto immune system so that fluid does not accumulate in the lungs in life threatening amounts.  In a French study this drug given along with Zithromax (Z – pack) has within five days reduced the level of virus to zero; these drugs have been in use for decades.  Is an off label use in the treatment of Covid-19 in order?– what do we have to lose?  The Federal Medical people need data to show effectiveness and license the drug for this use, but in the meantime many people will die.  I don’t think we should wait for this – there is, I think, the “right to try” an exec. order by the President in use now for people who are terminal.  Again what do we have to lose?  Learned this AM Dr. Mehmet Oz is starting a study to show effectiveness of this treatment regime.

Will there be no end to the bickering, blaming, name calling, false information, miss direction and unwarranted criticism of the President and the team dealing with this unseen , menace.   This is an instructional moment – why are over 90% of our medications and over half of our pain relievers manufactured in either China or India.  Over regulation, labor outsourcing what?  It is obvious we need to bring this manufacture home so that we can insure supply and quality! 

I have learned this AM that Speaker Pelosi and minority leader Schumer are standing in the way of passing a bipartisan money bill which would benefit workers and businesses.  Workers need money and businesses need revenue for overhead expenses.  This pandemic will be over at some time, workers need a company to come back to.  Time is of the essence.  It is obvious that these Democrats are putting themselves first rather than the American people.  They should be ashamed!

While at Iowa State University enrolled in advanced AFROTC we were taught aspects of leadership.   It is most important for a Commander to delegate-delegate-delegate.  No one person can be privy to all aspects of solving a problem or mounting a military operation, thus- a capable staff is most important to the successful outcome of the operation.  Summed up in few words – A Commander can delegate authority, but not responsibility.  Perhaps the Administration was slow to recognize the true danger, but they are doing the right things at the moment – Democrat leadership is another matter, however.   Again China is a clear and present danger to our country and all democratic governments.  We must distance ourselves from our dependence on them for many of our products from leather to drugs to rare earth elements.  One of our generation five aircraft the F-35 requires 2,000 pounds of rare earth elements – all coming from China.  This dependence is probably the most stupid thing our politicians have done in the last four decades.

Regards,

John Stiegelmeyer