HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-01-20 Public Comment - L. Kirk - Urgent need for covid policy step changeFrom:Lisa Kirk
To:Agenda
Subject:Urgent need for covid policy step change
Date:Sunday, November 1, 2020 8:56:53 AM
Commissioners,
I have a PhD in microbial ecology and environmental chemistry, am adjunct faculty in MSUChem and Biological Engineering, and own a laboratory located in Bozeman specializing in
industrial microbial ecology and geochemistry, which I returned to an "essential personnelonly" status 3 weeks ago due to Covid. Our team wears our masks and socially distances, but
our efforts are overshadowed by those who utterly disregard our public health mandates. Weall sink or swim together....and we are currently sinking.
Please empower our county health officer and law enforcement agencies to immediately
enforce the MT mask mandate and consider a 3 week shutdown beginning Wednesday. Ourcurrent rate of covid infection (almost 1% of our population per week) is terrifying...and it is
accelerating. We were the worst county in MT yesterday with the highest number of newcases and we are now seeing daily deaths. Our hospital is nearly at capacity.
We are urgently in need of a step change and it is clear that no further help or direction will
come from the state or federal government. A three week shutdown would avoid an impact onvoting, and put a substantial dent in the number and growth of cases before we celebrate the
Thanksgiving holiday and MSU students return home to their communities.
Allowing things to continue on this path, where we lead the nation in cases, is not responsibleleadership. We now know that covid has long term health consequences in those who
survive.
Please act immediately to protect our community.
Dr. Lisa Kirk
Sent from my Samsung Galaxy smartphone.