EDITOR:
Platte County does have a lower fatality rate from COVID-19 than the rest of the country. I suggest that other factors are the reason for that other than “herd immunity.” The percentage of COVID-19 cases compared to the entire population is low, but things can get overly critical long before that percentage reaches into double digits.
The hospitals in our area do not have one bed for every person in Platte County. Even though the death rate is stable, the case rate is rising alarmingly. These cases need to be treated and can test hospital capacity. Once that capacity is reached, there will be no treating people in auto accidents or even those with the flu.
The best advice that the health department can give to improve our health and immune system at this time is to stress wearing a face mask in public, washing our hands frequently, and physical distancing in public. If they thought exercise and drinking gallons of orange juice would act as a vaccine to COVID-19 they would have suggested it.
–Chuck Stone
Houston Lake