People I know have contracted covid-19.

They include a 90-year-old with a compromised respiratory system but no symptoms and a 104-year-old with minor ones.

Looking at the science, I found that:

• Corona viruses are not new. They cause 20% of common colds. Our bodies have been exposed to many viruses. Although we may not have dealt with this virus, it doesn’t mean our bodies don’t know how to react and why it is a mild disease for most of us.

• All viruses can mutate but most mutations weaken the virus. If a virus kills us, it kills itself. That’s why many mutations seek ways to continue to live inside us.

• The vast majority of us will have no serious issues and show no symptoms. Who is most at risk are those over 70 with diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and lung disease.

• Our overall health is more important than our age. Children have little risk. Outside of New York City, this has been primarily a nursing home and retirement community problem. The public hasn’t been as affected as the media wants us to believe.

When I talk of illness, I mean missing work and feeling bad, not testing positive.

• Our response is misguided. Social distancing isn’t medically accepted. It has not been scientifically tested to prove it works.

What has been tested is quarantining the sick from others. Those with significant risks must be protected. Keeping healthy people isolated isn’t necessary.

• Wearing masks should be people at risk or those who are ill. Prolong mask wearing increases the risk of disease to the wearer. We touch our face more when we wear masks. We re-breath pollen, dust and viruses that our bodies exhaled.

Most of us don’t wear surgical masks. Those we wear aren’t porous enough to allow the carbon dioxide our bodies exhale to completely pass through. This can cause carbon dioxide related health issues.

• Wearing masks weakens our immunity. Our immune system works by being exposed to disease. It’s an army of anti-bodies waiting to fight off intruders.

Although our immune system has not been exposed to covid-19 it has seen corona viruses. Our immune system only has to adapt to fight covid-19.

• We can strengthen our immune system with a balanced, healthy diet and by getting outside. Fresh air and sunlight provide vitamin D. When we are inside climate controlled buildings, air conditioning and heating recirculate the air including viruses.

Some say we can not return to normal without a vaccine. We do not have vaccines for Ebola, herpes and HIV/Aids to name a few. Yet we do not cower at home.

In May, more than 500 physicians signed a letter to President Trump urging him to end shutdowns due to the risk of ignoring major illness and postponing treatments.

Government officials can write all the laws they want but you know your family’s health. That’s why it’s better for government to trust us to do what is best.

Reader Scott Parks writes from Gaston.

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