To the Editor:

As an emergency physician, I am, like most doctors, trying my best to prepare for the impending influx of patients with severe respiratory disease. To be brief and to the point, if you have severe respiratory distress and the hospital you visit in your time of crisis does not have an available ventilator, there is nothing any physician can do to save you. It is ventilators that save lives.

We need the federal government to immediately act on this shortage in a way that only the federal government can. It must start stockpiling ventilators and mandate that companies increase their production significantly. Now is the time — not when we are in full battle. Please, do not make us choose who lives and who dies. We did not sign up for that.

Curt Meinecke

Wichita, Kan.

To the Editor:

Re “U.S. Seeks $500 Billion in Checks for Taxpayers” (front page, March 19):

The consensus among health care professionals is that we have an urgent and immediate need for a substantial increase in the number of hospital beds, ventilators, masks and other supplies to treat Covid-19 patients. We need a coordinated, government effort and a lot of money to produce this necessary equipment without delay.

As the federal government considers sending checks to Americans, I believe that some people would prefer to see their checks go directly toward the provision of these critical priorities. While people can make a donation upon receiving their checks, that takes valuable time. How can one elect to send checks to fund these needs before they get distributed to individuals?

Linda F. Keesing

Ridgewood, N.J.

To the Editor:

Re “Stop Saying Everything Is Under Control” (editorial, March 18):

I agree with your editorial calling for action. But don’t forget the potential of national service programs, including AmeriCorps. Currently, there are thousands of AmeriCorps members who are willing and able to pitch in and make a difference.