Sounding off: Hoarding is un-American

The coronavirus outbreak has panicked people into hoarding food, paper products and sanitizing compounds. Consumers across the country are conducting binge purchases of these products, and most supermarkets are reporting bare shelves and difficulty in restocking them. The binging activity is very un-American.

There is no need for people to be stocking up on food and other supplies that will last for a year or more. It is reported consumers are purchasing large quantities of toilet paper. Maybe they should be eating less so they can use less toilet paper.

My wife and I shopped twice last week, and we went through the express line of 12 items or less both times, which is typical food shopping for us.

It is reported that some people have been receiving their paychecks and going to supermarkets to shop for food, but they find empty shelves.

Supermarkets should limit the purchase of some items so there will be enough to go around. As a country, we have to provide much better consideration for our fellow Americans. Everyone should be able to provide food and other essentials to their families.

Donald Moskowitz, Londonderry, N.H.

The writer is a 1963 Penn State graduate.

Gov. Tom Wolf’s moves not an ‘attack’

I must disagree in the extreme with the tone of your editorial “Wolf’s excessive attack on the Pa. economy will hurt lives.” While many (including myself) disagree with the scope and execution of Gov. Tom Wolf’s rollout of measures to help stop the spread of covid-19, you can’t actually believe that his intent was to “attack” the state economy, or to “hurt the lives” of the people who elected him.

This kind of rhetoric only serves to sow mistrust of the people and institutions we need to rely on to get us through this. I have appreciated the Trib’s even-handed reporting of this crisis from its beginning, but this kind of posturing and mischaracterization at a time like this is not only irresponsible, but dangerous. The Trib needs to do better.

Michael Albright, Hempfield

Churches are not under attack

I would like to acknowledge Pastor Tom Walters of Word of Life Church for his willingness to graciously accept and respond to criticism for his decision to hold worship services this past Sunday (“Hempfield church pastor apologizes for open services on Sunday.”) He certainly does not deserve some of the hate-filled reactions that he received. This is uncharted territory for all of us.

Beyond the decision to hold worship services, I disagree with Walters’ assertion that the admonition of our government and our leaders “could possibly be, disguised in everything else, a direct attack on the church.” Churches were never listed as one of the many organizations and institutions that were required to close. To say that the government mandate is somehow an attack on the church is to suggest that the government is also launching a direct attack on restaurants, retail establishments and other small businesses.

The pain here is being suffered by all. The church is not being treated unfairly or being asked to suffer in a way that others are not being asked to suffer. There are certainly times when the church should push back against external forces. This is not one of them.

It is not about the numbers or the cause of death, as Walters suggests. If I had a chance to end death from car accidents by not gathering as a church family for a couple of weeks, I would do it. If I could end abortion by not holding worship services in a physical location for a month, I would do it. The fact is, we have, through a series of very reasonable and modest responses, an opportunity to end death from this virus.

It doesn’t matter whether it is one death or 100,000 deaths. We can, in fact, defeat death from this virus in a short period of time if we are all willing to do our part.

The Rev. Bob Ellson, Mt. Pleasant

‘Protection’ for frail elderly seems like punishment

The common narrative to endure social distancing measures is to protect the frail elderly. There are unintended consequences of the world we’ve imposed on them, based on my recent rounds in nursing facilities.

Many elderly there are frail with debility and dementia. Usually an otherwise mundane existence is broken up by social activities and interactions with each other. Even with poor cognitive skills, they thrived on a structured day. Many with dementia, and the lonely, were oriented by daily visits of loved ones and a familiar staff.

For their “protection,” they are all now confined to their rooms. The halls are empty. No outsiders are allowed to visit. There are no social activities or gatherings for meals. They are securely sequestered from the runny nose and juicy cough, stuck in their rooms with their meals brought to them by masked faces.

They wonder what happened to their families and why no one visits anymore. They wonder why they can’t dine with their friends and familiars. They wonder why they are being “punished.”

Hospice patients in their last days, but far too sick for home caretakers, can’t have family members share their last days because of the potential danger to other residents.

Would it be so difficult to expect a visitor to wash their hands, or not come fevered?

Despite beating the 14% to 30% pneumonia fatality odds every year, giving up our jobs, education and lifestyle so that they can be locked away seems disingenuous. The 14% fatality covid-19 virus is special. We know that because that is what we are being told. It is contagious. This is the Petri dish of everyday life.

If the elderly need protected from all those too inconsiderate to simply wash their hands properly or stay home with a fever, what is our position but continue to assure them that this lockdown is for their own good? Of course they are not being punished, but that doesn’t change the optic.

Use creative measures to visit your loved ones. Visit outside their room’s window, use FaceTime, write them a letter, send them a card. Let them know you care and they are loved. Being protected has the element of suffering and must be measured with wisdom.

Sean M. Porbin, M.D., Avella

God’s protection at Word of Life

I — and I’m sure those at Word of Life Church — believe and hope that letter-writer Dr. Marti Haykin is filled with love, compassion and courage as she attends to her physician duties (“For everyone’s sake, stay home!.”

Those of us in attendance March 22 prayed for this nation, doctors, nurses and first responders, as well as the president and his medical task force and Westmoreland County (“Hempfield church pastor apologizes for open services on Sunday.”)

I feel badly that she cried for our concern and safety and appreciate that emotion. However, many there knew a hedge of protection surrounded them by a loving, concerned God.

At 6 a.m. the following morning at Giant Eagle in North Huntingdon, 200-plus senior citizens piled in, with two double lines 100 feet long, side by side just 2-3 feet apart, waiting to pay cashiers.

Both are life-sustaining venues. However, for now, a church service is expected to be shut down.

Here is Pastor Tom Walters’ letter to the membership of Word of Life: “All I’m telling you is the pastors and ministry staff will be here for Praise, Promises and Prayer. We are considering ‘livestreaming,’ but that would require me to ask volunteers to be here. I am not asking anyone to be here except pastors and ministry. You do what the Holy Spirit tells you to do. Gov. Wolf has given permission for religious organizations to continue to function, but I’m not sure if that means church services or not. We, as the ministry and ministry staff, will be here for Praise, Promise and Prayer.”

Charles Horvat Jr., Penn Township, Westmoreland County

A look at covid-19 growth rates

The potential growth of covid-19 should be appreciated so as to maximize the hopefully short-term public response that is badly needed.

If it takes its natural course, the virus tends to infect others at a compounding rate of 30% or so. That will lead to a peak infection supposedly around the end of April. At that time, one-third of the U.S. population will be infected. That scenario would maximize death rates and suffering.

If some sort of therapy becomes available, we should treat it as a blessing. Depending on that by not isolating and greatly increasing care would be reckless.

If there is no serious mitigation of the increases, the following numbers represent the exponential growth that could occur, based on 30% growth per day:

Day 1: 1,047 people infected. On this day, about 1,000 people infect 300 new people

Day 5: 3,000 people infected.

Day 10: 11,100 people infected. On this day, about 11,000 people infect a little over 3,000 new people.

Day 15: 41,500 people infected.

Day 20: 154,000 people infected. On this day, about 150,000 people infect about 46,000 new people

Day 25: 571,500 people infected.

Day 30: 2.1 million people infected. On this day, about 2 million people infect about 600,000 new people.

Day 35: 7.9 million people infected.

Day 40: 29 million people infected. On this day, about 29 million people infect about 9 million new people.

Day 45: 110 million people infected. On this day, about one-third of the nation has become infected, grossly overwhelming the medical system.

Of course, significant social distancing, temporary personal isolation and effective medical therapies which are hopefully coming may significantly and quickly alter these numbers in a beneficial way.

James E. Ference, D.M.D., Johnstown

Westmoreland County, we will be OK!

My wife always tells my children, “I would jump in front of a bus to save your life.” Westmoreland County, I want you to know that the doctors, nurses and first responders of this county will jump in front of a virus to save your lives!

Every day health care professionals in this county are coordinating efforts to prepare to care for the county’s ill and injured. Media attention around covid-19 has been unprecedented. Every channel, every news story talks of this evolving viral pandemic. To some the media blitz is reassuring. To others, it can create panic and uncertainty.

We are preparing daily to meet this medical challenge. We are working to make sure that we can get care to your home when you call 911, and we are working to make sure that hospitals stand ready to care for all of your medical needs. The first responders, nurses and doctors are trained and eager to be there for you when you need us. The interagency cooperation and support is like nothing I have ever seen in the past.

We will be OK! I have faith in the system. I am not worried. I work with these medical professionals every day. They work 24/7 to keep you safe and healthy. They leave their families and come to work, exposing themselves to the very illnesses that afflict their patients. These people will literally jump in front of this virus for you.

Trust. Believe. Have faith. We will be OK!

William Jenkins, M.D., Murrysville

The writer is an emergency physician and EMS medical director for Excela Health.