I am writing in response to the article “Sen. Borrello Introduces COVID Bills” that appeared in the July 2 issue. I am appalled that these bills, which seem to ignore everything that we have learned about public health over more than a century, have been introduced and I strongly encourage the state Senate to vote them down.

Regarding Bill S.7268, which would prohibit a government entity from requiring individuals to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, Borrello states that “vaccines are a choice, and no one should ever be forced to be vaccinated.” With thinking like that, we would still be dealing with smallpox, measles, diphtheria, and a host of other diseases on a regular basis. Instead, following the science, vaccinations to protect against these diseases are required in many situations, including prior to attending public school and college. If this bill were to be passed, based on Borrello’s reasoning, it would follow that all of those previous inoculations should no longer be required either. Is that really the direction we want to go with public health?

Regarding Bill S.7269, which would prohibit a government entity or its subdivisions from requiring people to wear face coverings or face masks, this again flies in the face of epidemiology. Actual scientific studies, as opposed to YouTube videos, have shown that masks are an important tool in the arsenal of preventing the spread of contagious airborne diseases such as Covid.

Current CDC recommendations are for unvaccinated people to continue wearing masks when with people from other households and in indoor settings. The WHO goes so far as to suggest that masks be worn by everyone in light of the spread of the Delta variant. For Sen. Borrello to advocate the release those “who are vaccinated, recovered, or SIMPLY FEEL THAT IT’S NOT NECESSARY” from masking rules is to completely ignore medical guidance.

Finally, Bill S.7270, which prohibits a government entity or its subdivisions from issuing COVID-19 regulations or guidelines without first getting approval from the state legislature is ludicrous.

While his intent seems to be to tie the hands of Gov. Andrew Cuomo, it appears that it would effectively also tie the hands of our county government. If, heaven forbid, our Chautauqua County numbers suddenly surged, the Chautauqua County Health Department would be helpless to enact any measures until the state legislature approved them. Do any of us really have any faith in that happening in a timely fashion? Do we want to trust our ability to act to save lives in our county to the legislators in Albany?

I have been becoming more and more concerned about Borrello’s apparent attempts to position himself in a favorable light with certain segments of his constituency, at the cost of civil discourse and good governance. In spite of voting for Mr. Borrello for county executive in 2018 and then for state Senator in 2020, his current stances are making it less and less likely that I, as a moderate Republican, will find myself able to support him in the future.

Beth Green is a Jamestown resident.