Shutting down businesses is short-sighted
Getting sick from COVID runs the gamut from light cold symptoms, which is what my wife and I both experienced for about a week, to death. In that respect it is like other illnesses ranging from the flu, pneumonia and cancer. While it may seem insensitive or even harsh to say, the undeniable truth is the vast majority of people who get COVID will be just fine. You can argue with the tone, however the statistics are written in stone — the vast majority of people will be just fine and have no long term health issues from getting the virus.
There are other impacts that will last much longer than COVID symptoms, and those of the impacts of losing a job/career/livelihood. I am a retired mental health counselor and can speak to the severity of symptoms related to depression, anxiety and hopelessness when a person does not have a way to pay bills or put food on the table. To minimize the impacts of businesses closing or paying off most workers is simply irresponsible and shortsighted. Do people really believe the government can just print money to hand out to everyone forever in the name of safety? If they do, we are in big trouble.
People should be allowed the freedoms afforded us in America to keep a business open if employees are willing to take the risks, shoppers should feel free to shop if they are willing to take the risk, and all others who are at-risk or afraid should stay at home. Take precautions with masking, social distancing and sanitizing often, but government closing business down should not be happening, at all. It is un-American, short sighted and completely unfair that one business gets to stay open while others do not. Consumers pick winners and losers in a free country, not the government.
Losing people is sad, but life goes on. Losing hundreds of thousands of businesses and millions of jobs will be worse than anything we are experiencing now.
David Lipinski
Berthoud
We need a five-star program
Please get the five-star program or something like it to help small business in this time of crisis. Our favorite restaurants and stores need to be able to still earn an income and pay employees through these times when state officials close things down. Thanks!
Kacie Foelschow
Loveland
Chamber working on solutions for business
In an effort to keep our businesses open in a safe and effective manner, the chamber is working closely with the county health department, along with other leaders in our region, and the state to develop a program like the five-star program in Mesa County.
As the Chamber of Commerce, we will always step up and advocate for businesses, and help ensure their voices are being heard. The state has signaled they are reviewing a statewide program as opposed to each community creating its own. We applaud these efforts but emphasize they cannot work fast enough. Small businesses are being put in terrible positions, having to choose to follow or not follow the rules, as the holidays are approaching and thousands in our community are being laid off. Small businesses crying out for solutions from their leaders, to protect their livelihood and the livelihood of their employees.
In hopeful anticipation that the state will follow through with a statewide program, we will do everything we can to make sure our businesses are ready in advance of the new program being rolled out. We had a focus group meet Monday and have another focus group Zoom meetings set for Tuesday to ensure our businesses have a seat at the table and their voices are heard in the state’s planning process. Additionally, we are working in partnership with other local chambers and the health department to have all necessary things in place to have this program up and running the moment we get the green light.
We know that collectively we can develop creative solutions to ensure that all the safety concerns are being met all the while continuing to do business. For the future of our communities we have no other choice.
Mindy McCloughan
President and CEO
Loveland Chamber of Commerce
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Letters: COVID, business, five-star program, chamber of commerce - Loveland Reporter-Herald
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