COVID: Keep fighting, Idaho

On Face the Nation, Dr. Deborah Birx shared concerns about working in Trump’s administration: her scientific/medical guidelines and recommendations were ignored and/or undermined. Communications concerning COVID-19 were tempered because of the effects they would have on former President Trump’s campaign for re-election.

A frustrated Birx said, “Every time a statement was made by a political leader that wasn’t consistent with public health needs, that [statement] derailed our response.”

Recent comments made by Idaho legislators have had the same destructive effect on Gov. Little’s fight against the health care emergency that is COVID. Australia has followed strict pandemic health guidelines and has had 36 deaths per million to the U.S.’s 1,000 deaths per million.

Kootenai County leaders might listen to Dr. Birx. Senator Souza recently stated, “it’s time for this [emergency] to end.” Breaking news, Senator: COVID-19 and science battling it out will decide when this emergency ends.

I place my confidence in the leadership of Little and reasonable legislators. Little could use all the support and serious debate on how best to protect Idahoans, and less grandstanding for political clout.

A Coeur d’Alene resident was recently quoted, “…I don’t know what good [this emergency declaration] is doing anymore.” True leaders need to reassure her that it saves lives, assists health care workers, brings federal dollars to Idaho for the fight.

Instead, legislators talk of impeaching Gov. Little. Dr. Fauci is delighted that he can now — with Biden team support — use science to defeat COVID. I hope Gov. Little will be given the same support from our local legislators. Stay laser-focused on beating COVID and do not derail the emergency declaration until the emergency has passed.

JAN STUDER

Coeur d’Alene