It's Time

I think if you took a survey right now there would be a lot of people who would say let’s try to get back to some sort of semblance of what things used to be.

I’m sure there would also be a fair amount that would say no way, far too risky.

Like many of you I have seen a fair amount of news statistics about how many people have contracted the coronavirus and how many have died. Scary isn’t it?

What usually isn’t brought up is the vast majority that have recovered. Those numbers show it isn’t necessarily a death sentence to contract it.

Yes, too many have died. And for family and friends, it is not just a statistic — it is very real and very sad.

It would be interesting to see how many of those people died just from COVID-19. If a person is positive but also has underlying symptoms that could lead to death, COVID-19 will be listed as the reason for death.

I don’t think there have been any autopsies to verify the cause of death once the diagnosis is in. If someone dies, news reports show it’s automatically because of the virus.

Most of the world has stopped. We are supposed to stay home. I know some haven’t left their homes because they have an issue with their respiratory system and they fear what might happen to them.

It has been hard for many to be part of an exercise program. Many would love to go to the weightroom, but it is closed.

Some would like to take their kids to the park and run off some energy. But neighbors have been known to call these folks out and the parks have been closed.

The golf course is quiet, and for many retirees and others, that just doesn’t seem right. I think that it could easily be opened for two-somes, each with a cart unless it is a husband and a wife.

Why not let people enjoy life? If you don’t like it, close your blinds. There’s an old saying that means a great deal: “Give a man a fish and he eats for a day, Teach a man to fish and he eats for a lifetime,” except in our state. Gov. Jay Inslee and the state Department of Fish and Wildlife Director Kelly Susewind have ordered our rivers and lakes closed to fishermen.

I didn’t see anything about water skiing, just no fishing.

Why it is okay to buy alcohol and cannabis? Why are these considered essential and many other businesses are not?

Isn’t the real reason alcohol and cannabis are still a part of our everyday life through these trying times is because of the massive tax revenue they generate? Just saying.

I must say that the nice thing about living in the country is that our neighbors don’t seem to mind if we are outside mowing the lawn, planting flowers, spraying weeds or trimming the windbreak. My wife goes for a walk through the CRP field path and other than a deer, badger or coyote off into the distance no one bothers her. And she loves the fresh air.

There is a lot of information out there, but Eastern Washington is not a hot spot for COVID-19.

There are only three or four counties on the west side of the state that I would say still need to be quarantined and they are large, population-wise.

We have this social distancing under control.

Let’s open up the economy on this side of the state. Businesses can have a coronavirus plan in place and all should be right with the world if they follow it to the letter.

If we don’t do it right, then maybe we deserve to be sheltered at home.

— Dale Anderson is a local sports columnist. Email him at [email protected].