Cooper will still have my vote to become a U.S. Senator from the state of North Carolina. Throughout his 38 years in public service in North Carolina he has always governed with integrity in the best interests of all his constituents. His service has not been for personal glory, unbridled power or monetary gain but a sincere belief that all people deserve the right to live the best lives they can with freedom from discrimination, affordable housing, sufficient food, medical coverage and a livable wage.
Recent letters/articles in this paper have suggested that Roy Cooper would not be a good U.S senator because of his actions as North Carolina’s governor during the COVID-19 pandemic. Those letters/articles gave the impression that it was Cooper alone, and not others, who didn’t make the best decisions at the time.
On Feb. 11, 2020, Cooper announced the creation of a Novel Coronavirus Task Force and a state health department hotline. On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic.
One article said that North Carolina was being sued by restaurant and bar owners for monetary compensation because the shut down affected their ability to make a living. Restaurant and bar closures started March 15, 2020, when Ohio’s Republican Governor Mike DeWine ordered them closed in his state. By March 21, 2020, at least 25 states had closed restaurants and bars. By March 22, the number had risen to 38. These restrictions affected in-person gatherings. Delivery and takeout orders were still permitted. Restrictions were modified and/or lifted over time on a state by state basis.
While it is true that North Carolina was sued, it failed to mention that at least 11 other states were being sued as well. Those states are Illinois, California, Pennsylvania, Louisiana, Texas, Nevada, Iowa, Washington, Florida, Michigan and New York.
Many different businesses were initially shut down and were then reopened with masking, social distancing and sanitizing requirements in place. As unpleasant as the restrictions were that unfortunately did affect people’s livelihoods and mental health, they were definitely necessary to prevent additional serious illness and deaths from COVID-19.
Cooper or any other governor or mayor in charge did not cause COVID-19 to spread. People who were sick and did not follow safety protocols spread the COVID-19 virus to other people. Too many people did not seem to be concerned that their actions could have such disastrous results or cause the death of others Roy Cooper governed in the only sensible or responsible way he should. He prevented more people from dying from a virus that had no cure or a vaccine at the time.
Another article criticized Cooper for closing schools because of COVID-19. To try to stop the virus from spreading principles, superintendents and the governors closed schools across the nation.
Eventually 48 states, four U.S. territories, the District of Colombia and the Department of Defense Education Activity ordered or recommended that schools be closed. At least 50.8 million public school students were affected.
On March 12, 2020, Ohio became the first state to announce a statewide closing. On March 16, 2020, 27 states and territories that included North Carolina closed their schools. On March 25, 2020, Idaho and the Department of Defense Education Activity were the last to close all their schools.
According to UNICEF schools for more than 168 million children worldwide were completely closed down for almost a full year from March 2020 to Feb. 20, 2021.
The rational for closing schools at the time was that there was not enough room in schools for the children to properly follow social distancing guidelines. Even though children were less likely to get severe cases of COVID-19 than adults they were still able to spread the virus to classmates, teachers and staff who could then spread it to their elderly relatives and other people. Cooper along with many other leaders around the world worked with the best information they had at the time.
Cooper will still have my vote to become a U.S. Senator from the state of North Carolina. Throughout his 38 years in public service in North Carolina he has always governed with integrity in the best interests of all his constituents. His service has not been for personal glory, unbridled power or monetary gain but a sincere belief that all people deserve the right to live the best lives they can with freedom from discrimination, affordable housing, sufficient food, medical coverage and a livable wage.