Re Shot or not, virus amount same (July 31): while the latest findings that the COVID-19 Delta variant viral load can be similar in vaccinated folks as those who arent is disappointing, it shouldnt change anything.
The infected people who are vaccinated are still much better protected against death or serious illness, so the decision whether to get vaccinated remains essentially a no-brainer.
Furthermore, vaccinated people shouldnt be impacted by mask mandates (simple recommendations are perfectly fine), because the latest restrictions are still ultimately about asking people who have taken logical action to combat the virus to protect those who are unwilling to do so.
Thats where freedom of choice must be retained. As a society, we need to move forward with logical acceptance of the virus as a long-term presence and resume normal lives in all but the most extreme circumstances.
If youre concerned about the spread, by all means you should mask up; thats your choice.
As an individual who got vaccinated as soon as it was available to me, I choose not to further disrupt my life for those who wont help themselves.
Bob Cunningham, Cherry Valley
Border crossings have nothing to do with surge
In response to the letter writer on July 30 who believes that immigrants crossing the U.S./Mexican border are major contributors to this COVID-19 surge and are causing us to be unwittingly locked in another virus surge, one needs only look at the data to see that this is false. Beyond the few border towns housing ICE detention centers (where immigrants are now at great risk of contracting COVID-19), the effect of immigrants on the incidence of COVID-19 in the U.S. does not even register.
And no one who has not had their head in the sand is unwitting in this process. We are bombarded on a daily basis as to the reasons for the surge: the Delta variant is significantly more infectious. Thousands of vaccine-eligible Americans are choosing not to be vaccinated and a majority of these same people are acting as if the pandemic is over and refuse to mask up or practice social distancing.
If you are not taking the pandemic seriously, then the real cause of the surge is staring back at you in the mirror.
Paul Clement, Upland
