Dear Editor: Time to be ‘less critical and adhere to the medical experts’ advice’


I’m aware that part of our culture is to criticise and sometimes to trivialise. But this is not the time. The time now is to rise above that way of life and to fight against this unseen enemy that is causing overwhelming death.

We must be less critical and adhere to the medical experts’ advice. People young and old will be asked to alter or change their daily routine, to stay at home, to stop the spread through self-quarantine and isolation.

Photo: Members of the public practice social distancing in Manila.

The following Letter to the Editor condemning the public’s disregard for government restrictions during the Covid-19 pandemic was submitted to Wired868 by Salaah Inniss:

As I write, more than 1.3 million persons have tested positive for Covid-19 worldwide. In the United States, the death toll has crossed 10,000. Countries like France, Spain and Italy have seen staggering fatality rates, while here at home, so far 8 persons have died. If those death figures do not raise your temperature in fear and panic, then I don’t know what else can.

To my fellow Trinbagonians who have been obstinate and believe that just because our death toll is not astounding, it could only mean that ‘God is ah Trini’, consider that ‘death is no respecter of persons’. We should instead believe that obedience is not servitude, and it is irresponsible to think that we wear a cloak of immunity. That thinking can only ensure an escalation of the death toll in our country.

We have heard for the last two months to isolate, practice social distancing and to stay at home! Our prime minister has been on national television and radio advocating that we be disciplined and follow the guidelines set out by the chief medical officer to ‘flatten the curve’ so we can come out of this pandemic with a minimum of fatalities.

But with all these statistics and information, globally and here at home, what did we take from this? That the government is restricting our way of life by stopping our Monday traditional river lime, by denying our livelihood of selling doubles and, most importantly, by closing recreational watering holes such as bars and rum shops.

Photo: A woman self-isolates from the novel coronavirus.

People with common sense know that these measures are meant to limit and protect people from congregating and assembling, but for some asinine and inane persons, they see it as an act of an uncaring and insensitive government! “You can educate a fool, but you cannot make him think.”

The World Health Organization is warning that the Covid-19 pandemic is going to get worse before it gets better. International medical experts have warned if countries fail to contain or slow the spread, even at the cost of social and even economical disruptions, lives will be lost significantly.

Social distancing is one method of stopping the spread and our health experts have gone on record to advise our citizens to stay at home, to help break the potential chain of transmission by preventing unwanted gatherings. It is all about avoiding and bringing large groups together.

According to the Washington Post: “The reason isn’t that it will stop the virus; it’s likely the same number of people will ultimately still get sick. But it could mean the difference between a manageable surge of patients and one that overwhelms scarce resources, resulting in unnecessary deaths.”

I’m aware that part of our culture is to criticise and sometimes to trivialise. But this is not the time. The time now is to rise above that way of life and to fight against this unseen enemy that is causing overwhelming death.

Photo: A Covid-19 patient is evacuated from the Mulhouse civil hospital, France on 23 March 2020. The Grand Est region is now the epicenter of the outbreak in France, which has buried the third most virus victims in Europe, after Italy and Spain.
(AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)

We must be less critical and adhere to the medical experts’ advice. People young and old will be asked to alter or change their daily routine, to stay at home, to stop the spread through self-quarantine and isolation.

This is no time to be fragmented, there must be a bi-partisan approach. But at the same time, we must have confidence in what is being asked of us, especially our medical professionals, the TTPS and all others who are entrusted to keep us safe, to stop or slow down this apocalyptic crisis before it decimates our population.

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About Salaah Inniss

Salaah Inniss is an ardent writer with an enthusiasm for bringing insightful views on national issues. He graduated from Cipriani College in Environmental Management, and is presently working in the Integrated Facilities Building Service Industry. He is an empathetic supporter of conservation and the protection of the environment.

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One comment

  1. Well said!

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