After reading the frontpage story in your newspaper on July 16, 2020, “Commercial Club still plans for Jesse James Days to happen, but with limited events due to COVID-19,” I felt obligated to voice my opinion for my community and neighbors’ safety and health. For those that do not know me, I will provide a short background. I am a PhD virologist who has worked with coronaviruses for over 40 years. I have worked as a Biosafety consultant to many major companies. I set up programs to stop the spread of infectious agents in research facilities and laboratories. I have done this for numerous animal and human pathogens. I know how these agents spread, infect and cause disease, and even cause death. I worked with the FDA and federal government groups for vaccines and therapeutics against bioterrorism infections (anthrax and smallpox) post 9/11.
I am concerned about the safety of our community inhabitants by allowing the Jesse James Days activities to proceed, “it was essential for the morale of the community.” Staying healthy and alive is essential for the community. We must maintain social distancing (6 feet) both indoors and outdoors and wear face masks. We need to do this to slow the spread of community infections and prevent potential hospitalizations and deaths. The COVID-19 does not discriminate on politics, social status, ethnic backgrounds, education or age.
I know how frustrating it is to be restricted on indoor or distance interactions, but now is not the time for the Commercial Club to promote potentially unsafe health conditions (enhanced virus exposure). Looking at virus spikes around the country is real and we are not immune to this in Garretson, South Dakota. How often do we have a chance to save a life? If we saw a puppy or kitten or small child drowning, wouldn’t we do anything to save their lives? Let’s be socially responsible and cancel the Jesse James Days events for this year, so we all can enjoy them in 2021 and the years to come.
-Keith Haffer
27 year Garretson Resident, Home and Business Owner
