Dear Editor:

A letter last week complained about our state government's handling of the COVID-19 problem and said it was way too strict. Being a retired engineer I thought I would look into the facts. I wanted to compare other like sized, northern, rural states and see their results. The other states were Montana and North and South Dakota. The chart shows the results.

The numbers after each state show the population, the COVID-19 cases, and deaths due only to Covid

Maine: 1,300,000, 48,642, 729

Montana: 1,080,000, 103,843, 1,436

S. Dakota: 890,000, 115,100, 1,713

N. Dakota: 770,000. 100,089,. 1,960.

These other smaller states had over twice the cases and deaths that Maine has. The figures are the best I could get from each state's health department.

So if we followed these states' lead about half of my town's population (Edgecomb) would be dead. Being well over 70 and now having received my two shots,  I am glad this state followed science.

Robert E. Crink

Edgecomb