Schedule to re-open N.L. economy is too rigid
I am writing to express my agreement with recent comments made by Ches Crosbie on the inflexible schedule dictated by the chief medical officer of health for reopening the economy.
I thought the purpose of the COVID-19 restrictions was twofold: (1) to flatten the curve so that there would not be overdemand on hospital resources and (2) to set a balance between protecting the population and reopening the economy.
In Newfoundland and Labrador the curve has not only flattened, it has gone into a steep nosedive with about four cases in the past month.
Yet the chief medical officer refuses to show any flexibility in meeting the second priority.
Each day that goes by there are individuals and small businesses that are going bankrupt, never to open again.
People have no jobs and no money and are desperate, financially and emotionally, with no chance to return to work for many more weeks or even months.
There are provinces with far more cases and deaths than Newfoundland and Labrador yet they have taken a more common sense, logical approach to reopening.
There are even inconsistencies in the present policy.
For example, why are stores like Walmart, which sells everything besides food, allowed to be open by following the established guidelines while other stores that could follow the same guidelines are shut down?
These affected employees are out of work and businesses are closed for no logical, valid reason.
I am well aware of the need to keep people safe, especially the more vulnerable, but there has to be a proper balance between safety and reopening the economy as other provincial, national and international authorities have done.
Not having more flexible restrictions will result in Newfoundland and Labrador being an even worse economic wasteland.
You would think the Dwight Ball government, which is financially insolvent or close to it without federal assistance, would want to see the economy open up in a quicker but medically safe manner.
P.J. Martin Mount Pearl