By Luann McVey

I’m writing to express my appreciation to the Juneau Assembly for quickly adopting further mitigation measures in response to the increase in Covid-19 infections in Juneau, worsened by the delta variant of the virus. My family members and friends are all fully vaccinated and are grateful for the availability of the vaccine in Juneau. Unfortunately, while vaccinations help reduce the severity of symptoms, they do not prevent us from becoming infected or from spreading the virus to others. We must keep that from happening.

It is for good reason that we are again wearing masks, keeping our distance from those we love and spending as little time in public areas as possible. No one, including the fully vaccinated, is immune to this disease and the effects can be devastating. Fully vaccinated older people are vulnerable, but so are teenagers and young adults. Infection in a fully vaccinated person, while likely to prevent hospitalization and death, results in symptoms that are not like a cold or the flu. The symptoms are still severe enough to knock down a normal, healthy vaccinated person, ranging from headache and fever to sore throat and cough.

It is easy for vaccinated people to be lulled into thinking we are protected and to go about our normal activities in public. If we are not concerned about the effects of this virus on ourselves, however, we should consider the older people, vaccinated or unvaccinated, in our lives. We should also consider the babies and children, as they are not eligible to receive the vaccine. Many of these youngsters are at high risk for severe respiratory problems and for multi-symptom inflammatory syndrome. This can result in organ failure.

Preventing the spread of the delta variant of the COVID-19 virus should be our community’s top priority. If a public mask mandate does not begin to bring down Juneau’s case numbers, we should be prepared for further mitigation.

Please, dear neighbors, follow our community leaders’ informed guidance. GET VACCINATED. WEAR MASKS, especially in public indoor areas. OBSERVE PHYSICAL DISTANCING of at least 6 feet.

Lastly, please join me in thanking our assembly members, city staff,and mayor for their quick response to this sudden increase in COVID infections.

• Luann McVey is a retired Alaskan teacher. She resides in Douglas. Columns, My Turns and Letters to the Editor represent the view of the author, not the view of the Juneau Empire. Have something to say? Here’s how to submit a My Turn or letter.