Dear Editor,
I read your Editor’s Note caveat prior to printing the statement full of disinformation from one of our esteemed members of the WV House of Delegates. Your note mentions impartiality in political matters and a denial of an endorsement of, or for, any candidate. This does not absolve the newspaper of fact checking the content of a statement.
The diatribe is full of information that is clearly incorrect and easily fact checked. A few quick examples: 1. Contrary to the statement, masks ARE highly effective in preventing spread of viruses, including Covid – 19 (https://www.cdc.gov/ coronavirus/2019-ncov/science/ science-briefs/masking- science-sars-cov2.html). 2. The opposite of the statement is true about masks causing hypercapnia – THEY DO NOT (https://healthfeedback.org/ claimreview/wearing -face-masks-does-not-cause- hypercapnia-or-affect-the- immune-system/). 3. The United States Covid – 19 infection/fatality ratio is over 1.0% – 36,951,181 cases and 620,493 deaths. The world wide Covid – 19 infection/fatality ratio is 2.1% – 208,470,375 cases and 4,377,979 deaths (1.7%) (World Health Organization Covid- 19 Dashboard). 4. The death rate from influenza (the flu) is typically well below 0.1% (World Health Organization 2019). A conservative estimate by the CDC is that the Covid – 19 virus fatality rate is at least 3.5 to 5 times that of the flu. The writer also seems to think that the fact that ONLY 400 children under 15 have died from Covid – 19 is acceptable. The writer’s self appointed 15% fatality rate being the red line would equate to 5.5 million deaths of Americans to date. Thank goodness those in charge don’t have the same idiotic opinion. The statement goes on with more misinformation but the point is made.
The political use of dis- and/or mis-information has risen to new heights in recent years. Individuals that want to push their own misguided agendas have thrived on the phenomenon. There is not a realistic chance of the writer realizing the errors and harm of the propaganda but we expect better from our journalistic publications. Printing of this kind of misinformation can prove very harmful if not deadly to our residents; in opposition to your stated mission in every publication.
Sincerely,
– Dr. Roger A. Holliday
This page is available to subscribers. Click here to sign in or get access.