Recent editorials from Alabama newspapers:
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April 29
The Times Daily on guidance about wearing masks in public to protect against the spread of the coronavirus:
Public health officials have already advised that people should wear masks when in public, and that advice is all the more important as state officials begin lifting some restrictions on businesses and public gatherings.
Gov. Kay Ivey announced on April 28 that retail businesses, beaches and government offices can reopen after 5 p.m. on April 30, so long as they maintain social distancing restrictions.
Restaurant dining rooms, entertainment venues and close-contact service providers, such as hair salons and tattoo parlors, however, will remain closed.
The new order from State Health Officer Scott Harris encourages individuals, especially in vulnerable groups, to continue limiting trips outside the home and practicing personal responsibility such as frequent hand washing.
“The threat is not over,” Ivey said. “We must continue to be vigilant in our social distancing.”
Yet even when we practice social distancing, inadvertent or momentary close contact can occur. And social distancing by itself is not foolproof. Wearing a mask, whether surgical or homemade, is a good backup.
Ivey’s modified “safer-at-home” order doesn’t require people to wear masks in public, but some health officials had previously said it should.
“I think everybody in a store buying a product should be masked,” David Spillers, CEO of Huntsville Hospital System, said.
Judy Smith, administrator of the Alabama Department of Public Health Northern District, said that wearing a mask is one of the best ways for people to protect themselves.
“This virus we’re dealing with, which clearly is highly transmittable, is a respiratory virus. … In a time when we do not have a vaccine, we don’t have an antiviral that works on this, wearing a mask is one of the most crucial things anyone can do,” she said.
It’s all the more crucial when one considers how quickly COVID-19 cases could spike, putting us right back where we started.
People cannot assume the threat is over just because the state is relaxing stay-at-home restrictions. The threat is still out there, and people who don’t even have any symptoms of the new coronavirus can be carriers, passing the virus on to people who might get sick - and people who because of their age or underlying medical conditions are particularly vulnerable.
As it has become in some other places, particularly Japan after the SARS epidemic of 2003, wearing a mask if you even suspect you might be ill is viewed as common courtesy.
The South may lack the high density and public transport that have proven to be breeding grounds for the new coronavirus, but we’re not immune. And if we want to maintain our reputation for Southern hospitality, we should wear masks for the duration.
Whenever you leave the house, wear your mask.
Online: https://www.timesdaily.com
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April 25
The Cullman Times on book suggestions for reading at home during coronavirus lockdowns:
‘Outside a dog, a book is man’s best friend. Inside a dog, it’s too dark to read.” Groucho Marx
In the future, if anyone questions spending money on the arts, remind them of how they spent their time during the new coronavirus. From binge watching shows on streaming services and cable to catching up on television shows, listening to podcasts and music to reading books, we are connected to the arts, and through the arts, we connect to each other.
Even if you didn’t like or haven’t watched “Tiger King,” you probably know the names Joe Exotic and Carole Baskin because someone you know is talking about them.
This past week was “National Library Week,” and even though our libraries are closed to the public right now, they continue to provide services online, including the ability to check out books digitally and download them. During the week, the Friends of the Cullman Library System shared on social media some of the librarians’ and patrons’ favorite books.
The newsroom here at The Cullman Times decided to share some of ours. We hope you enjoy them, and, if you want to talk about something other than “Tiger King,” well, here’s a few we recommend.
AMANDA SHAVERS
“At the Mountains of Madness”
“The Forever War” by Joe Haldeman. A science fiction novel about a soldier, who, due to years traveling to battle and back in a type of suspended animation, spends over a 1000 years fighting a war.
“Watchmen” (graphic novel) by writer Alan Moore, artist Dave Gibbons and colorist John Higgins.
The novellas and short stories of H.P. Lovecraft. “At the Mountains of Madness” is a favorite.
“The Stand” by Stephen King. I’ve read it twice.
AMY HENDERSON
“Anna Karenina” by Leo Tolstoy. I connected with this book when I read it for the first time in high school and it’s a favorite to revisit from time to time.
“The Princess Bride” by William Goldman. The movie is great and the novel gives us even more of that greatness. It’s inconceivable you won’t like this book.
“The Hobbit” by J.R.R. Tolkien.
“The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 3/4” by Sue Townsend. This is the first in a series of Adrian Mole books, all are equally funny.
TYLER HANES
“The Andromeda Strain” by Michael Crichton. “The Andromeda Strain” begins with a satellite falling to Earth near a small town in Arizona, which soon sees all of its residents die under mysterious circumstances save two - an old man and an infant.
This may seem a little too on-the-nose while the world is currently in the middle of an actual pandemic, but Crichton’s page turner of a novel offers a lot of science and a lot of thrills, and you may not want to put it down until the mystery is solved.
JAKE WINFREY
“11/22/63” by Stephen King: The protagonist goes back in time to prevent the assassination of JFK. Best book I’ve ever read.
“The Myron Bolitar” series by Harlan Coben: My favorite book series ever - a sports agent that solves mysteries.
“The Mitch Rapp” series by Vince Flynn/Kyle Mills: A CIA counter-terrorism agent foils terrorist plots; great political thrillers.
BENJAMIN BULLARD
“Till We Have Faces” by C.S. Lewis
“Break, Blow, Burn” by Camille Paglia
“A Clearing in the Distance: Frederick Law Olmsted and America in the Nineteenth Century” by Witold Rybczynski
“The Lotus Caves” by John Christopher
Online: https://www.cullmantimes.com
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April 24
The Gadsden Times on discussions about implementing a ‘disaster fund’ in one county:
Pardon us if this sounds unseemly.
We’re certainly aware of the struggles people are facing at present trying to survive in an economy disrupted by the novel coronavirus COVID-19. Saving money can’t be very high on the priority list for those who are fighting to get the stuff.
Once this crisis is over, however - and it will be; have both patience and faith - some observers expect folks to become more cognizant of the need to put money back for emergency situations, especially if the likely scenario of people hesitating to rush out and spend money at non-essential businesses when things “open up” plays out.
Again, we may be opening ourselves up to admonitions of “that’s easy for you to say.”
We’re also quite aware that even in the “normal” times of literally a few weeks ago that people are pining for, when the stock market was surging and unemployment numbers were low, workers often held multiple jobs trying to make ends meet.
Financial gurus recommend having six months’ income set aside in an emergency fund.
The make-ends-meet crowd would guffaw and ask, “What bills do you suggest I leave unpaid to do that?”
Still, it’s a worthy goal and not just for individuals. That’s why we were intrigued by the idea floated this week by Deborah Gaither, director of the Gadsden/Etowah Emergency Management Agency, to the Etowah County Commission.
It came up during a discussion of what factors need to be in place for things to “open up” with COVID-19 still circulating in the atmosphere. Gaither said there needs to be a county disaster fund - a permanent one, not just for the duration of this crisis.
In the short term, it could be used to fund appropriate personal protective equipment for those on the front line of coping with the coronavirus - staff at hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living centers and other health care facilities and first responders.
We’re aware there’s a debate over who should bear primary responsibility for such things right now, given the inherent scope of a national pandemic. Generally, though - and we concede this isn’t a normal or perfect situation - we think local officials are more cognizant of the needs in their respective areas.
That leads to the long-term implications of Gaither’s idea. More than once, tornadoes or severe storms have pounded Etowah County and caused severe damage. Making those who have impacted the whole will of course take federal intervention - which often is ponderously slow in arriving. Having a local disaster fund in place could help ensure the county is prepared for such disasters and has the flexibility to meet some immediate needs before federal help arrives.
Pause button time.
We’re also painfully aware that we’ll get the same “that’s easy for you to say” protestations from local officials who are sending dire signals of how the coronavirus crisis will impact county and municipal budgets. Opening a “savings account” isn’t likely to be high on their priority lists, either.
There also might be, in the close to 400,000 words (which is why we aren’t checking; we don’t have the time) of Alabama’s archaic, awful Constitution, a prohibition against such local disaster funds here, although they exist in other states.
It’s still an idea worth discussing, even if it turns out not to be feasible or possible.
So discuss it.
Online: http://www.gadsdentimes.com
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