Is it too late for action to halt COVID’s spread?

Gov. Kim Reynolds, Iowa’s Republican Legislature and members of Congress need to justify why they are so adamantly opposed to public health safety protocols and measures which would have helped stop the spread of the deadly pandemic caused by the mutating COVID-19 virus. Action would have prevented thousands of hospitalizations and the deaths. Simply claiming “individual freedom” just does not cut it when cases and hospitalizations are again at record levels.

Reynolds has mandated, legislated and litigated against public health protocols which would have protected Iowans and helped "stop the spread" of a deadly virus. U.S. Rep. Miller-Meeks’ Dec. 5 newsletter states she has “always opposed vaccine mandates” while being “proud to support several pieces of legislation opposing the Administration’s mandate including the Stop Vaccine Mandate Act, the FREEDOM Act, the Keeping Our COVID-19 Heroes Employed Act, and legislation to block the implementation of the mandate.” I thought she was a doctor. I wonder why our governor and others do not understand the fact a virus needs a host in order to survive. As long as Iowans do not get vaccinated, fail to follow public health protocols, i.e. wear a mask, and our elected officials continue to oppose public health recommendations intended to stop the spread of this virus, COVID-19 will continue to spread unchecked and our lives will never return to normal.

Diane Duncan-Goldsmith

Iowa City