We do not yet know enough about COVID-19 to say who is vulnerable and who is not: Letters

Jan. 9 — To the Editor:

Last week there was an excellent article in the Portsmouth Herald by Dr. Daniel Kim: Focus COVID efforts on most vulnerable, not healthy children. While I agree with almost all of his main points we need to consider a number of items he did not discuss.

We must be aware that even though children are not currently considered at high risk for serious SARS Co-V-2 disease, they remain important vectors for the transmission of the virus to more high risk individuals. If children age 5 and older do not get vaccinated and do not wear masks in school and become infected with the highly transmissible omicron variant, they will continue to spread the virus to both vaccinated and unvaccinated high risk individuals.

More: Dr. Kim: Focus COVID efforts on the most vulnerable, not healthy children

Another point that Dr. Kim did not discuss and should be considered as we develop COVID-19 policies is that we do not yet understand the natural history of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

We have only had two years of experience with this virus. As with other viruses such as varicella (chicken pox) and Polio, there may be long-term or short-term complications that may arise in even low risk groups months or years after infection with SARS-CoV-2 who had only mild disease or no symptoms.

To highlight this problem, last week the CDC issued a report on the significant increase in new cases of type 1 and type 2 diabetes in children who had been infected with SARS-Cov-2. In two data sets they found a 166% increase in new cases of diabetes, and a 31% increase in the other. The same findings have been reported in Europe. They do not yet understand the mechanism of how SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19 might lead to new diabetes cases.

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Another serious complication we have already seen as a result of even mild SARS-CoV-2 infection in children and young adults is Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C). MIS-C is a condition where different body parts can become inflamed including the heart, kidneys, eyes, intestinal organs, brain, and the skin. How SARS-CoV-2 triggers this complication is still unknown.

The point is that we do not know what other complications might develop later in life as a result of SARS-CoV-2 infection. It will take years to fully appreciate the true burden of COVID-19 disease beyond what we have already learned. There may be other surprises yet to unfold as we learn more about this new pathogen, and what currently unknown effects it will have on those previously infected. That is why our best policy should be to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection in everyone as much as possible, not just those we currently consider the most vulnerable.

More: Face masks required: Portsmouth city manager issues public health directive as COVID surges

After all, we may learn later on that the most vulnerable to long-term complications may be those we consider low-risk today. To that end, especially with the surge in cases resulting from the omicron variant, we need to get as many people as possible vaccinated as quickly as possible, get those eligible boosted, require masks in indoor public facilities, and avoid large crowds. Not only will we benefit today, but we may save serious problems for many later on.

Rich DiPentima, RN, MPH

Portsmouth

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When it comes to attack on Capitol, believe your own eyes and ears

Jan. 5 — To the Editor:

On the 1 year anniversary of Jan. 6, it is important that we speak out about what we saw and heard that day. There are some who will try and dissuade us from believing our own eyes and ears. It’s called gaslighting. For some reason, these individuals continue to try and paint a picture that the events of that day were simply because people wanted a “fair and transparent election.” Make no mistake, the Big Lie is why they were there. The Big Lie continues. It continues to divide our communities, our families and our relationships with each other. It has become a cancer within our society.

More: Raw video: Police defend Capitol entrance on Jan 6

A recent poll conducted by UMass Amherst found that 58% of all respondents believe that Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 presidential election was either definitely or probably legitimate and that only 33% of respondents believed that his victory was either definitely or probably not legitimate. However, the same people who perpetrate the Big Lie would have us believe that an overwhelming percentage of the American people believe that the 2020 election was not a valid election. Once again, what they say just isn’t true.

More: Kerr: Jan. 6 Committee is making sure history won't be undone

The seeds of distrust and the gaslighting of the American people began long before the Big Lie and Jan. 6. But that day, I watched in horror as people, carrying Trump and American flags, attacked the police, spraying them with chemical agents and beating them with anything within arm’s length including American flags. That day they desecrated the flag, the symbol of our country. I watched as the doors of Congress, the People’s House, were being broken open by an angry mob, and I prayed that the loss of life wouldn’t be catastrophic. I heard the mob as they chanted in the halls of Congress, “hang Mike Pence,” “Nancy we’re coming for you,” and other statements meant to terrorize our duly elected officials. I recognized our own NH Congresswoman huddled in the balcony, wearing a gas mask and I prayed for hers and everyone else’s safety. That day I watched in horror.

The horror continues as I hear the excuses, the whitewashing and the attempts to divert our attention from holding those responsible accountable for their duplicity. America is at a crossroads, and the very core of our democracy is at stake.

Cindee Carter

Rye

Dennett Road project in Kittery looks like workforce housing bait and switch

Jan. 5 — To the Editor:

The Kittery Development Committee discussion of the Dennett Road project included workforce housing rates as a key to approval.

I was on that committee, but l am not positive, because at my age… sometimes "memory does not serve."

Tuesday’s paper quoted the Kittery director of planning and development saying that residences would be at market rates. Evidently, the town ordinance on workforce rates came after Dennett Road approval by the planning board.

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Whatever the timing, the planning board approval given the developer needs to be reviewed. It violates a key Kittery policy. Workforce housing needs to be expanded. Market rates are contrary to this policy.

Are the rental rates, understood by the developer an administrative error…or an after-the-fact, switch? .

David Lincoln

York, Maine

Republicans think the only fair elections are those they win

Jan. 6 — To the Editor:

In a guest op-ed of Jan. 4, Portsmouth Republican Committee Chairman Alan Forbes asserts that “The Big Lie is that those who went to the Capital on Jan. 6 did so for any reason other than they wanted a fair and transparent election.” Unfortunately, hundreds of these concerned citizens were so enthusiastic about fairness and transparency that they decided the only remedy was a violent attack on the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives to obstruct the constitutional process of certifying electoral votes. Not once in his column does Chairman Forbes even mention this shameful event. Thankfully, readers do not need to rely on Mr. Forbes revisionist account of January 6; the video history of the attack is there for all to witness.

More: Letter writers rip column that argued Jan. 6 Capitol attack was about 'fair elections'

Mr. Forbes also observes that “Although I don’t like to lose elections, I’ll accept them when I believe it was conducted fairly.” How interesting that Chairman Forbes can accept election outcomes in which Republicans prevail, but if Democrats win, there must be fraud involved. In New Hampshire, Republicans successfully won control of both the House and Senate and the governor’s office, yet Mr. Trump lost. One can only imagine the chicanery Forbes envisions for Trump’s defeat.

Mr. Forbes makes one observation that most people can agree on. “Faith in elections is a bedrock of our democracy.” Fifty secretaries of states certified the results of their elections. Hand recounts and audits failed to show any evidence of fraud. Mr. Biden won 81 million votes and Mr. Trump 74 million, and Biden won 306 electoral votes to Trump’s 232.

Faith in elections is a bedrock of our democracy, and so is the peaceful transition of power.

Michael Shea

Portsmouth

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Too much unknown about COVID-19 to say who is most vulnerable: Letters