To the Editor:

Regarding the letter writer in the April 1 issue, blaming the news media for our current problems, I see that President Trump finally realizes how serious the coronavirus is. He (very recently) said that he hoped the deaths in the U.S. were only 100,000, but they might approach 240,000. The fact that he closed his eyes to facts, just as the letter writer did (or does), for over six weeks, hospitals are missing crucial supplies. 

He was first warned about this in the middle of January, but he basically did nothing until the end of February. And he did not realize how bad it was until this week.

South Korea and the U.S. both had their first coronavirus victim on the same date. South Korea immediately started a task force to react against this disease. The U.S. did nothing. The number of deaths projected above are if all states would enforce stay-at-home orders. Five states have not yet done so; the president should immediately impose national restrictions, as most states have done. South Korea is recovering; the U.S. is not.

This administration will not be blamed for the coronavirus, but it will be blamed for failing to react appropriately, causing many unnecessary deaths.

Clark Pearson

Sylva