Trump Blames Tests and Obama

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/15/opinion/letters/coronavirus-trump.html

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To the Editor:

In Pennsylvania on Thursday, with stunning ignorance, President Trump explained why our nation tragically leads the world in Covid-19 deaths: “When you test, you have a case. When you test, you find something is wrong with people. If we didn’t do any testing, we would have very few cases.”

And all this time I thought chemo could save me from my leukemia. Stupid me. Had I simply never taken a blood test, I could have avoided my cancer altogether.

Michael MaurerLong Branch, N.J.

To the Editor:

Re “President Turns to an Old Ploy: Blame Obama” (front page, May 15):

Barack Obama’s crime was being more efficient, more moral and more empathic than this president will ever be.

William B. BakerSummit, N.J.

To the Editor:

As I read the stories in the four-page section on May 11, “In Harm’s Way: The Heroes,” I could not help but be tremendously moved by the dedication and self-sacrifice of each of them, nurses and doctors, men and women, young and old.

I could hardly finish reading them without tears of admiration and respect. Thank you for sharing those wonderful stories about such terrific people.

Sean McGuan Sr.Lyndhurst, Ohio

To the Editor:

As we all start to look ahead to gradually reopening New York’s economy once we turn the corner on the pandemic, the question has arisen: What does reopening the city’s restaurants look like in a period of continued social distancing? How can these often-cramped establishments accommodate enough visitors to be financially viable?

As I watch my fellow citizens happily reclaiming streets that have been released from the iron grip of cars, the thought occurs to me: Why not turn some of these public spaces into car-free outdoor dining zones into which adjacent restaurants can expand during the warmer months?

Put a canopy over them, as they do down on Stone Street in the financial district, and let the eateries have some needed breathing space. This should work on parts of dining-heavy streets like Ninth Avenue in Hell’s Kitchen, St. Marks Place in the East Village, Vanderbilt Avenue in Midtown East, Arthur Avenue in the Bronx, Cortelyou Road in Brooklyn and maybe the 14th Street busway.

Since we’re all foodies in New York, maybe the car owners won’t even bellyache so much about this idea.

Gerry KhermouchNew York