"Yes, the second week of Bike Week could have been canceled. Yes all large gatherings need to be canceled. Where is the Volusia County Public Health?"

Appalling views

In Friday's paper, I have never read more irresponsible comments or appalling lack of knowledge by officials concerning COVID-19 and what is and is not possible to keep the population safe.

[READ MORE: Despite coronavirus pandemic Bike Week rolls on.]

Yes, the second week of Bike Week could have been canceled. Yes all large gatherings need to be canceled. Where is the Volusia County Public Health? This is a national emergency and we need to start acting like it.

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No, we can't stop the virus, but we can slow it down so the medical community can keep up. My heart aches for all the businesses and employees which are and will be affected. We as a community need to be sensitive to those who are financially impacted and help in whatever way we can. God Bless America.

Deborah Sefcik, Palm Coast

Expensive mistake

I am shocked beyond belief at the mayor’s decision to close down all the outdoor vendors at Bike Week on Friday. The bike event was in full swing there was only Saturday left. Kinda late to close down the vendors when they have been here since Thursday last week.

I think he wasn’t taking in to account that Bike Week raises lots of revenue and his decision was totally wrong on all counts. I guess he has the money in his pocket to make up the difference of revenue lost.

Faye Heaton, Daytona Beach

The next event

If you are all hot and bothered about Bike Week not being canceled, why not Spring Break? A mixture of reckless, hormone raging, college students crammed in crowded place and, of course, through in alcohol. Or are the college students just better at washing their hands?

I think this Bike Week should be a bellwether event to determine if canceling a major event is working to reduce the incidence of COVID-19. Lets see how many cases can be traced back to Bike Week where thousands of "deplorable" bikers gathered for the annual event.

Joseph Hodges, Ormond Beach

A good call

Thank you for your courageous recommendation to shut down the last weekend of Bike Week. I sent a similar suggestion to health officials yesterday. While pleased with a quick response, I was disappointed to learn these decisions are left up to local groups.

This policy works well 99% of the time. But as this particular pandemic escalates, the state officials may find it necessary to overrule local officials should large event/gatherings increase the health risks for greater Florida. This is a major policy change that we must face much sooner than we're prepared for.

Meanwhile, your call for local businesses to shut off the taps, cancel the music, and self-regulate the size of gatherings is a wise suggestion. Painful because we all know the economic impact of Bike Week. But nonetheless wise because we must care more for the human impact.

Wilbur Taft, Ponce Inlet

Who’s right?

I found the last paragraph of the "Ask The Doctors" article in Saturday's paper very interesting. The good doctors say they agree with the officials who claim "the greater health risk continues to come from our own ongoing influenza season" (vs the coronavirus). This appears contradictory to your "shut it down" alarmist theme regarding the coronavirus.

Unless your editor has now decided to be the man on the street every flu season in the sandwich sign proclaiming the end of the world, there appears to be a contradiction between your actions and claims of why you are all in on the alarm mode. Are you trying to protect us from the calamity of a "plague" or are you trying to assist the Democrats and the AP in promoting an economic downturn? Are the good doctors wrong?

Jim Elsevier, Edgewater

Don’t be greedy

I'm home bound temporarily so it's difficult to get out to the store for food and necessities. That definitely gives an advantage to a person who can run to the store any time they need to. So, please, don't be a hoarder during this coronavirus crisis. Buy what you need and leave some for everyone else. There is not a Category 5 hurricane at our doorstep.

I'll leave some for you, please leave some for me. Thanks.

Bob Gilpatrick, South Daytona

TP and tap water

The government and the media have put COVID-19 at the center of our lives and the seriousness of this pneumonia-like virus, which can seriously affect the health of the elderly and persons with medical issues, can not be understated. It is not my position to address the already massive amounts of information and mis-information already out there.

What I am totally confused about is the panic buying of certain goods like toilet paper and bottled water. It is a shame that people are so afraid that they must purchase more toilet paper than they could possibly consume in 6 months or a year. This country will not run out of toilet paper if you purchase only what you need. Some people have serious illnesses that require them to use more toilet paper than average, and I cannot imagine their panic when shelves are empty.

But even worse: The massive amounts of bottled water being purchased. I know of no municipality having a water shortage due to COVID-19. The water that comes out of your tap is not in jeopardy of running out or being contaminated with COVID-19. This is not hurricane season where power outages can affect the ability to get water to your homes. Tap water is perfectly safe to consume.

I do my best to not use bottled water for numerous reasons such as environmental contamination from the disposal of the plastic bottles to the fact that big companies pay next to nothing to bottle billions and billions of gallons of water and have become an additional problem to our already declining flow from the states springs. So please use some common sense over these next few months as we get through this COVID-19 crisis.

Bruce Beckman, Port Orange

Better get ready

Think of this virus like an incoming hurricane. Prepare. Where or when it hits an area there will be consequences. If you are missed, breath easier. Better ready than not.

Jon Stauffer, DeBary

Misinformation stream

At a time of severe and unique crisis facing the country, what is needed more than ever is honest, accurate and timely information disseminated to the public in real time, as well as the implementation of a decisive action plan from the White House and State and local leaders to respond to the life and death health issues confronting the American public. What we have seen is a continuing series of lies and misinformation coming from President Trump and his administration.

After eliminating the CDC office specifically tasked with responding to a pandemic, he claims he didn’t know about it. When asked about the continuing series of contradictory statements from him and his medical experts at the CDC, almost on cue, he blamed "fake news from CNN," while Fox News in the form of Sean Hannity, dutifully attributed a government "deep state" conspiracy was behind the global pandemic.

When asked if he takes responsibility for the pathetic levels of testing to date, he said he does not accept responsibility; and blamed earlier administrations despite entering his fourth year as president. I have spoken with several people who have parroted these false and dangerous narratives, claiming no pandemic exists anddescribing it as fake news. When I ask how a political plot can cause the infection and deaths of tens of thousands worldwide, they insist they need not take any precautions.

A chance to unite the nation has only served to further divide it and endanger the health of its citizens.

Patrick Wall, Ormond Beach

Why so different?

How many of us remember the "swine flu" in 2009-2010? I didn't remember it as a nationwide panic, but I don't know why it wasn't. The H1N1 "swine flu" was not a coronavirus. Yet in infected 57 million Americans, sent 257,000 to the hospital and killed 11,690 people (including 1,180 children) according to the Centers for Disease Control, from April 2009 thru January 2010. President Obama declared a national emergency on Oct 24, 2009 after 22 million Americans had been infected and over 4000 died. I don't remember cancellation of any sports events, conventions or public gatherings, or schools closing and travel bans.

As of Friday, Mar 13, COVID-19 cases in the US were 1,629 and deaths are 41 adults with no children affected. President Trump declared a National Emergency today and he has blocked travel from a number of countries.

Can anyone help me understand why COVID-19 has caused so much panic and hysteria, when H1N1 did not?

Ben Fitzpatrick, Ormond Beach