- April 18, 2024
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In comments near the end of a Feb. 23 School Board workshop, board member Janet McDonald pressed for a loosening of mask rules while restating theories that are out of step with the mainstream medical consensus on COVID-19, advising listeners to do “better research” on the “actual science.”
She claimed, incorrectly, that masks had “never been studied” for limiting viral contagion.
“I would like to see us not wait for the world to face the reality that masks are making people less healthy, because of the bacterial load,” she said.
No peer reviewed, scientifically sound studies have been conducted that indicate such a danger from masks, according to Florida Department of Health-Flagler Health Officer Bob Snyder.
McDonald said she believed masks inhibit social and emotional growth.
“The psychological damage that we’re doing to children and the community in perpetuating a belief in a piece of cloth that has never been studied for any validity for limiting viral contagion or transmission is a real concern to me,” she said.
She continued by suggesting that the board discuss how the district could lessen restrictions on people who are not healthy enough to wear a mask or who’ve already had COVID-19 or the Moderna or Pfizer shot.
No other board members responded.
Snyder, reached on Feb. 24, reiterated the importance of COVID-19 safety measures.
“Every reputable scientist, physician and public health professional that I know, whether it’s Dr. Fauci at the national level, Dr. Scott Rivkees, Florida’s state surgeon general or Dr. Stephen Bickel, medical director of our Flagler Health Department—all continue to strongly recommend and promote social distancing and mask wearing as key actions to stop the suffering and death attributable to COVID-19,” Snyder said. “A total of 500,000 deaths in our country was sadly reached this week.
"Right now, the Health Department is focused on a robust and effective mass vaccination program that began at the fairgrounds. To date, 20,263 Flagler County residents have been vaccinated. This represents 48% of persons older than 65 in our county. Flagler is ranked eighth out of 67 counties for total percent of our population vaccinated. We are very proud of this statistic, despite needing a greater supply of vaccines.
“We are at the fairgrounds today providing first shots to 750 folks. This will be our busiest week for vaccinations thus far. Our weekly allotment increased to 1,600 from the 800 doses received in previous weeks.
“The science, facts and evidence is clear—vaccinations, mask wearing and other public health measures are critical and essential to end the suffering, hospitalizations and death associated with COVID-19."
