Confusing COVID-19 coverage

A handful of articles on the local and statewide COVID-19 situation in the Feb. 16 issue of the Weekly News provide confusing messaging on the seriousness of the public’s role in the pandemic.

Overall, Skagit County hospitalizations and positive cases are lessening. But per page two and page three articles, hospitalization cases are “still quite high,” local Fire District 13 is forced by the virus crisis to run smaller crews and return to zoom meetings, and the statewide move to end the indoor mask mandate is “in transition” while the mandate remains in place. (Feb. 17 update ... Indoor mask mandate will end March 21).

What perplexes me is that the most prominent of the issue’s COVID-19 articles glorified the mandate-defiers with a color photo and front page story of “yet another maskless breakfast” at a Burlington cafe that has “been serving their guests mask-free for months.” Another eatery down the street put on a special breakfast in support of the first cafe, which by the way has been fined over $367,000 for flouting the state’s public health mandates.

The cafe owner said “We love the people of Skagit Valley.” How does one show “love of people” by dissing public health regulations in a serious pandemic? By risking customers’ and staff’s health, and the health of their loved ones? Why is the La Conner Weekly News giving prominence to the months-long lawbreakers and mandate defiers, those who are part of the pandemic problem and not of the solution?

Clara Duff

Anacortes