To the editor:

I am a physician who has been caring for patients in an urgent care that serves a very impoverished community highly affected by COVID. I am completely shocked and infuriated by your commentary last week. Those of us taking care of patients are completely burnt out and morale is quite low. We thought we had gotten through the worst of this pandemic and are now in the midst of another spike. This mutation could have been prevented by more people masking and getting vaccinated and less politicizing of the scientific community’s response. We now have a mutated and more contagious form of this virus that affects even those of us who cared enough about others to get vaccinated. But here we are. The scientists and medical professionals who have been working their butts off feel like we have to start over. Honestly it feels like a gut punch.

Of course it is frustrating for all of us to have to mask again and be “forced” to sanitize our hands. But what is the alternative? Risk people’s lives by playing a game of chance with a deadly virus in order for our kids to play sports and sing chorus unmasked? Of course we all want a “normal” environment for our kids but is one dead student or teacher worth the risk? I know plenty of people who have lost their lives, their loved one’s lives, or who live with COVID long-hauler syndrome. I also know of many kids and adults (including me) who are suffering from anxiety and depression. We must support each other in order for all of us to get through this. This includes being good role models for our children and reassuring our kids that we all need to work together.

Your implication that “big government “ or the CDC doesn’t care about our health is a great example of the disinformation campaign that has made this pandemic deadlier. I hope our school committee pushes for a mask mandate in our schools in order for us to return to some sense of normalcy. 

Carla Martin MD

Barrington