EDITORIAL: McKee Shows More Leadership Than Governors Baker and Lamont
EDITORIAL
EDITORIAL: McKee Shows More Leadership Than Governors Baker and Lamont
Lamont is a Democrat and Baker is a Republican.
In Connecticut, COVID cases have increased 196% and hospitalizations 82% in the past 14 days, according to the New York Times on Wednesday— both stats are leading the country.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTRhode Island is not far behind Connecticut and the Commonwealth just a little further behind Rhode Island.
For Governor Dan McKee, the easy thing would have been to follow the neighboring governors.
Instead, McKee came up with a strategy that will require vaccinations or masking in nearly all environments — entertainment or work-related.
The new requirements will decrease transmission of the virus and strongly encourage more vaccinations.
Should McKee have implemented these policies earlier? — yes.
Should Rhode Island move to a three-shot booster policy? — yes.
The policies McKee announced are smart and balance protecting public health and trying to minimize more damage to Rhode Island's fragile small businesses.
The reality is that government can only do so much.
Rhode Islanders need to get boosted, They need to take responsibility and act responsibly. There is little that can be done for those who refuse vaccination other than hope they don't infect their elderly relatives (leading to many deaths) and hope Rhode Island has enough hospital capacity to be able to treat these unvaccinated and irresponsible neighbors.
Some Rhode Island Republicans instead of encouraging vaccinations or urging Rhode Islanders to take action to protect themselves spewed illogical and factually flawed criticism. It is disappointing that House Leader Blake Filippi, who is usually focused on important Rhode Island issues, is choosing to take up a silly, flawed Trumpian approach to a critical public health issue.
McKee's policy is imperfect. The pandemic does not allow for simple answers and perfection. It feasts on delays, ignorance, and arrogance.
Let's all get boosted and put on a mask - it won't kill you. The alternative could.