It’s time to end the Shelter in Place Order

As of April 27, the San Mateo County Health System reports that 41 residents have died with Covid-19 out of a population of about 800,000, or about 0.005% of the County population, and deaths have been declining for weeks. The County also reports that 74 San Mateo County residents were hospitalized with Covid-19 on April 27, while 92% of ventilators went unused. Our hospital capacity -- which was projected to be overwhelmed weeks ago even with social distancing in place, but never was -- is more than sufficient. By most metrics we are seemingly past our peak and have “flattened our curve”. So why did San Mateo County Health Officer, Dr. Scott Morrow, ramp up his extreme requirements again today, extending the Shelter In Place order through May? Last week he added a new requirement that all of us must wear masks around town and look like bank robbers while out in public carrying out the few humble tasks that are allowed. It’s time for Dr. Murrow to change direction back toward civic liberty minded norms and toward the gradual reopening of our County’s economy.

Full disclosure, there is no M.D. after my name. I am a longtime San Mateo County resident and active member of my local community. My husband and I own a small business that has been idle since mid March thanks to County restrictions. I am writing this as a citizen concerned for our community about the damage that is being done under Dr. Morrow’s edicts. When things are bad, they are usually worse for the most vulnerable among us and we must change direction immediately or risk a totally avoidable humanitarian crisis.

Dr. Morrow should be held responsible for publishing misleading information and instilling unnecessary fear and overly burdensome restrictions on our County’s residents. A Stanford University study published last week suggests that the Covid-19 mortality rate is much lower than previously believed, while actual death rates are around 0.15% for the entire United States, which is not much different from a typical flu. Did you know that if an 86-year-old patient dies of a stroke while having Covid, it’s counted as a “Covid related death” even though the patient didn’t die from Covid-19 but rather with Covid-19? San Mateo County reports that 100% of the Covid related deaths have been in the 50+ age categories, and the gross majority of those have been in people over 80 years old. Do you know anyone in that age range who doesn’t have at least one comorbidity? My 70-year- old parents have at least 3 comorbidities each: high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and obesity to name a few. So how about we protect the elderly and those with preconditions and let everyone else get back towards normal? That is an achievable goal that citizens could rally around. I’m watching neighbors turn against neighbors over things as stupid as a lawnmower on a daily basis, and for what? A death rate of far less than 1%.

In his statement to the public on March 23rd, Dr. Morrow writes, “We are in a grave crisis.” I submit the “grave crisis” we are in is from losing our minds because of his draconian measures. Dr. Morrow, of all people, should know that when the economy “grinds to a halt”, as he previously stated he thought it should, the rates of burglaries, depression, suicide, domestic abuse, alcoholism, etc., all rise. To be sure, some of the measures he’s put in place have likely helped our county keep our numbers low, such as social distancing, and encouraging good ole’ fashioned hand washing. And we definitely have a limited number of tests. You know who else has a limited number of tests? The... whole...wide... world. And we still have to keep living. You know who knew that first? Sweden. About 0.01% of their deaths have come from Covid-19 and they have basically taken a “do nothing” approach. They have not closed their borders, not done any sort of a lockdown, and their schools and businesses are still open. No one is questioning whether or not social distancing works (it does), but I’m questioning if all the other measures Dr. Morrow has put in place are worth the trade-offs. People have lost livelihoods, people are losing their jobs right now and meager government handouts are no replacement for a vital economy. Mental illness will be on the rise in our County. And perhaps most importantly we are postponing herd immunity the longer we all are held hostage in our own homes.

While I think it’s safe to say we all want to keep each other healthy, no one is going to stop you from self-quarantining if you want to. If you believe Dr. Morrow, that we are in “grave danger”, go ahead and hang out in your garage for the next few years until the Swedes come up with a vaccine because they’re still working and free. Let our kids go back to school, let us go back to work, let me breathe without smelling my own stinky breath in a gross, sweaty, unnecessary mask. I’ll drive by and throw some bananas over your fence every few weeks and make sure you’re still alive, all the while rejoicing because my four children are back in school. I’ll be the one out looking for my liberty, I swear it’s around here somewhere. But please, let the rest of us get on with our lives.