* The experience of other countries shows that softness and liberality are allies of the coronavirus.”–Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
* “The low number of confirmed cases in published reports does not show the true number of people who have been infected by the virus in Miami, or anywhere else in the USA, for that matter. It only reflects where we should be testing.” Excerpt from a letter issued by 75 emergency room doctors, nurses and physicians’ assistants in Miami, the epicenter of Florida’s outbreak.
* “Today nearly all adults are eligible to vote, and yet because of the Electoral College, their votes do not count the same, and the candidate who gets the most can, and does, lose. … If candidates knew that they needed the most votes in the country, rather than the most votes in a few key districts in a few battleground states, they would base their appeals on what voters wanted rather than on where they happened to live.”–Jesse Wegman, author of “Let the People Pick the President: The Case for Abolishing the Electoral College.”
* “Many people consider the things government does for them to be social progress, but they regard the things government does for others as socialism.”–Supreme Court Chief Justice Earl Warren.
* “We’re talking about a president who is basically doing what Herbert Hoover did at the beginning of the Depression and minimizing the danger and refusing to use available federal action. And people are going to die, and they shouldn’t, they don’t have to, if we could get the support that we’re asking for.”–New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio.
* “The typical modus operandi from (Trump) is to bluff, is to fake, is to deny. He always was more focused on who he could blame versus fixing the problem.”–Jack O’Donnell, former president of Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City.
* “The only industry that hasn’t been slowed down by the virus is the lobbying industry.”–Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., on the frantic efforts by lobbyists to get a piece of a proposed $2 trillion relief package.
* “When a scourge is upon us, immunization starts looking pretty good.”–Los Angeles Times.
* “Those three-word sentences can make all the difference: ‘I miss you.’ ‘I love you.'”–New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
* “For us to stay open right now was just not the right thing. The social responsibility that we possess is much greater than the need for group dining right now.”–Ferrell Alvarez, co-owner of Proper, a Tampa restaurant.
* “Social distancing is essential to defeat this pandemic, however, we should be very mindful of the consequences of social isolation. … For many (abuse) victims and survivors, staying at home is not the safest option.”–Dr. Abraham Salinas-Miranda, director of the Harrell Center for the Study of Family Violence at USF.
* “There is no precedent. Whatever we have experienced, it’s not this.”–Visit St. Pete/Clearwater CEO Steven Hayes.
* “I do know one thing for certain: When this has passed, people will need the beautiful, historic Tampa Theatre more than ever as a place to gather, embrace each other, and celebrate our collective humanity once again.”–John Bell, president and CEO of Tampa Theatre, in announcing that the theatre was extending its COVID closure until at least April 30.
* “We’re very much planning in the dark. … The good news is because we have worked so hard to build Tampa Bay’s platform, we have got a shot of more rapid recovery than most.”–Bob Morrison, head of the Hillsborough County Hotel and Motel Association.