EDITOR’S NOTE: The Santiva Chronicle publishes opinions and letters on topics that are important to Sanibel and Captiva. They may be submitted via e-mail at news@santivachronicle.com. Views expressed are not necessarily those of the Santiva Chronicle.
I am concerned with the lack of reporting to the citizens of Sanibel on COVID-19 in our community. I’m not suggesting the violation of privacy rights but more robust disclosure.
People come to Sanibel, from all over raising the population from 6,000 off season to 5 times that in season. I think it is likely that the influx of people is bringing COVID-19 with them when they visit and may well turn Sanibel in to a COVID-19 hotspot. Millikin Universality defines a COVID-19 hotspot anywhere the number of cases equals 12% in a rolling 14-day period. A most recent report from Millikin already has Florida as a hotspot. I think the people of Florida and the city of Sanibel are entitled to know the following:
Number of tests given
Number of positive test
Number asymptomatic
Number admitted to hospital
Number in ICU
Number on ventilators
Number who have died
Number who have recovered
Number of cases by age group
Number of contact tracing indicating where the virus originated
If the state health officials have this information why are they not reporting it to the council and the people of Sanibel? I need to know how much risk I’m taking on the Island and I can’t make that assessment on one piece of information. The lives of my wife, friends and neighbors are at stake. I urge you to write or call our state senators, state representatives and the members of city council of Sanibel and demand they give us all the information.
Dan Perkins
Sanibel Resident