03/04/2020
Hi Washington Post people,
Your posts are received on my computer every day and I read them with interest and an open mind.
You are starting to fear-monger about coronavirus though and I caution that although you need hype and readers. . .you can harm people by creating fear.
Know that in this influenza season 2019-2020, 15 million Americans have had the flu, 140,000 have been hospitalized and 8200 have died. . .and the season isn’t over.
Few Americans wear surgical masks for influenza (useless for COVID-19) and where are the flu shot lineups? We might never see these numbers for Corona but these numbers are here and now for influenza! No panic exists because the media is mute and ignorant. . .thank the Lord!
As reporters you seem to miss these deaths, like the 2000 children that die EVERY DAY of diarrhea worldwide. . .many in the USA and on every continent.
COVID-19 will be a pandemic soon and many will die BUT almost all healthy Americans will survive and almost all unhealthy ones by good fortune and not by good health planning.
In Canada where I live we are ready for Corona (National Health Care) but you in America are not. Your health care is state run and so there will be no national co-ordination. You’ll be going in 50 directions when COVID-19 happens ( 52 including Guam and Puerto Rico), which it will. This needs attention and your press are all over what is happening elsewhere instead of what is going to happen at home.
Hepatitis B, SARS, Terrorism and AIDS scares from’ 79 to the present should have taught y'all. . .how come we never learn from history.
Anyway the Post could lead and direct the US national media. This is a massive opportunity to be relevant and lifesaving.
Regards,
Dr. Derek MJ Turner