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Letter: I wouldn't trust government with my kids' health on COVID-19

Port Coquitlam letter writer's coronavirus concerns extend to the transparency of government officials on the disease's spread
corona

The Editor,

Re. "Health officials won't ID schools affected by COVID-19" (tricitynews.com, Feb. 25).

Well, so much for transparency. Now we have the government hiding facts. And officials are saying "Trust us." Not happening.

Fortunately, my children are no longer school aged. But if I had children in school, I would be very, very concerned.

As it is, any parent will agree that children in school share virtually everything, especially colds and other ailments. And now with the COVID-19 going around, the risk of sharing remains the same if not greater, and perhaps not at the minimal risk the authorities want us to believe. 

If I had school-age children in my home and the government refused to be transparent regarding these issues, I would remove my children from school until such time as the government finally became transparent such that I could make a meaningful decision; or until the virus subsides, when I would no longer need to trust the government's to make my decisions.

My children and their health would not be negotiable.

Trust is tenuous at the best of times when dealing with governments. And I believe the government is now crossing the line when it comes to the COVID-19 virus. The government needs to rethink its PR approach, particularly when it comes to our children's health.

Michael Sonntag, Port Coquitlam

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