Opinion: Voices on coronavirus pandemic

Customers lined up over the length of a football field at Sam's Club located at 2901 Clairmont Rd in DeKalb County on Friday, April3, 2020. Chamblee police had an officer on site to monitor the crowd which was being let into the store in lower numbers to retain social distancing.  JOHN SPINK/JSPINK@AJC.COM

Credit: JOHN SPINK / AJC

Credit: JOHN SPINK / AJC

Customers lined up over the length of a football field at Sam's Club located at 2901 Clairmont Rd in DeKalb County on Friday, April3, 2020. Chamblee police had an officer on site to monitor the crowd which was being let into the store in lower numbers to retain social distancing. JOHN SPINK/JSPINK@AJC.COM

Today, as part of our role in facilitating a civil exchange of ideas around key issues on our pages, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution presents insights from local leaders who offer their views on the ongoing effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

Now-retired longtime U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson writes about the recently passed $2 trillion federal package of aid for people and businesses hammered by the economic onslaught of COVID-19.

Georgia Tech's Joseph R. Bankoff offers a global opinion on the fight to contain the virus and what tactics he believes might best be employed in that fight.

And an Alpharetta City Council member recounts that city's heart-wrenching effort to restrict business activity in an effort to help quell the virus' spread.

He also calls on all Americans to set aside political differences and join in the fight.