We’ve not reached COVID peak in Iowa

To the editor:

Our Republican governor was tardy in taking step to minimize the spread of the novel coronavirus. After she instituted social distancing measures too late, now she wants to lift them too soon. We have not yet reached the peak of cases in Iowa, yet she wants to allow the curve to continue to climb.

Two parts of the recent announcement stand out, begging for comment. First, she is 'opening” 77 counties. Henry County remains 'closed,” but Jefferson and Lee counties are not. Assuming there will not be guards at the county line, it will be easy (perhaps inevitable) for a carrier from Henry County to visit Fairfield and begin spreading the virus there.

Second was the warning that workers who chose not to return to work for fear of COVID-19 would lose their unemployment benefits. Reynolds's lack of concern for workers led to huge outbreaks in meat-processing plants, and this underscores her disregard for worker safety. This is just mean-spirited.

We need leadership that takes science seriously and puts citizens' health above corporate profits. You cannot fool Mother Nature, and attempting to get back to 'normal” too soon will create more pain and longer disruptions.

- Jeff Fager, Mt. Pleasant