Unnecessary risks pose as threats to others

To the Editor,

     I have mixed feelings about the car cruise that happened last Saturday night (April 4).

     Was it a good thing for the food pantry and a feel good story that helps us get through these hard times? Yes. Was it an unnecessary risk? Yes.

     There is a reason our governing bodies are pleading with us to social distance and stay home. It’s simple; people are dying.

     While it may seem low risk to drive your car around a small town, the simple fact is that the more people you have in a confined space the more likely you are to spread this virus. Even if one person was exposed, that’s one too many. They could go to their place of work and spread it to 10 others, who spread it to 100 more. This is why we must limit these unnecessary risks.

     And again, I cannot stress this enough, is driving around a small town in your car low risk, yes. But if 500 people do it then that low risk is amplified exponentially to the point where it’s almost inevitable that someone will unintentionally become exposed. That is the definition of community spread, which this virus is doing in Jones County.

     Currently in this country, nurses and doctors are writing their last will and testaments before going to work in the fear that they will die from this virus while trying to help others live through it. This is why we are pleading for everyone to stay home.

     This is why we want to limit unnecessary risks. Please think before you go out these next few weeks. Always ask yourself, is this an unnecessary risk.

     Is there a chance I could spread this virus? Is there a chance I will be the reason another person dies? Stay home, healthcare workers will thank you!

Hannah Thompson

Monticello, Iowa