Chinese coronavirus commentary

“Coronavirus exposes our moral corruption” (March 11) ignores basic science and facts, and we must make the following clarification.

Diseases know no borders, and all mankind is in a community of shared future. When the whole world is fighting against the epidemic, unity and cooperation are the best weapons at our disposal. Such devious actions like spreading rumors, xenophobia and stigmatization must be rejected and condemned.

The Chinese government and people, with resolute actions and huge sacrifices, have created a strong first line of defense against the international spread of the virus. China is protecting its people and the entire world. What China has been doing exemplifies its respect and safeguard of basic human rights.

Currently, the virus is spreading in multiple countries, and China is not hesitating to share its experience and offer help. We believe in the philosophy of the community of shared future, and are confident that mankind will overcome any difficulties as long as we stay united.

WANG YONGJUN Chinese Embassy Spokesperson in Israel

Orit Arfa (“The virus of gov’t control,” March 13) goes off the deep end in her outburst on the way the government has dealt with the coronavirus – closing the borders, closing the schools, and the meek Israeli public accepts it. She would have everybody deciding on their own how to deal with the pandemic: government out, informed people in.

I guess the same construct goes for rocket attacks from Gaza: let the people deal with it. All able-bodied people should grab their rifle, tank, plane or whatever and open fire. The government forces us to have driving licenses? Let everybody decide on his own if he knows how to drive. The government forces everybody to send their children to school? Let the parents and kids decide what to study, when to go to school, when to lie in bed. The government forces us to procure gun licenses? Wrong again. Everybody who wants a gun should be able to have one and practice in their backyard.

There is a limit to free market philosophy – a good example is the newspaper. Not everything deserves to be published in it.

YIGAL HOROWITZ Beersheba

I couldn’t disagree more with Orit Arfa’s assessment that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is exerting too much control over Israelis’ personal lives by insisting on self-quarantine for those who may have been exposed to the coronavirus. This is a global emergency situation, of the type no one alive today has experienced. It’s easy to criticize and advise someone who, unlike her, not only has much more information through a wide range of professional sources but also carries the responsibility of a nation on his shoulders. I am quite satisfied that Netanyahu took the steps he did, when he did, to close off the borders in order to contain this pandemic from wreaking havoc on our citizenry. Other nations are only now adopting measures we took a week ago. The PM’s decision may make the difference in the number of casualties we suffer and the ability of our health care facilities to handle the pandemic. Europe’s open borders and lax control have led to the catastrophic results in Italy, Spain and other locations. Personal freedoms are one thing, but quite another when exercising them can be a threat to the lives of others in your community. MEIRA OVED

Modi’in

The current corona pandemic (viral) has in common with the bubonic plague (bacterial) of the 1400s the lack of a remedy to protect people. In contrast, however, this time the Jews are not being burned at the stack for “causing” the disease (except, perhaps, for the Iranians