I am grateful to all those in our community who are risking their health and safety to feed the hungry, care for the sick and those in nursing homes, comfort those who are suffering, respond in emergencies and provide essential services.

I especially appreciate businesses like Safeway and its employees and everyone else who correctly wears uncomfortable masks to protect the rest of us. They truly are heroes because they don’t know when they may be exposed to COVID19 and become ill.

It’s alarming that cases of the virus have doubled in Montezuma County since the end of April. In Colorado, there have been outbreaks in several West Slope towns and among employees at Walmarts and grocery stores, including a City Market in Breckenridge.

We are seeing visitors from other parts of the state and surrounding states with high numbers of cases. Since people from those areas are coming here, we need to be vigilant to protect ourselves. We all want everyone to go back to work and businesses to reopen but it must be done safely.

Judy Schuenemeyer

Cortez