If at first you don’t succeed, try again.
On Thursday, Aug. 26, the Guilford County Board of Commissioners held a special meeting and adopted a countywide mask mandate requiring Guilford County residents to wear a face covering while indoors at public places such as stores, restaurants, schools and clubs.
If that sounds familiar and you’re saying to yourself, “I thought the commissioners did that 10 days ago,” you are correct, but the first mandate didn’t take. While the earlier hastily drawn and rushed-out-the-door mask mandate didn’t pass legal muster, top county officials and legal minds have had nearly two weeks to draw up the new, similar mandate, so the latest version presumably will be enforceable under the law.
The Aug. 26 mandate, which went into effect the instant it was approved, includes fines for those who, after a warning, disobey the mandate – and it comes at the objection of many, many county residents who’ve been vaccinated and those who are sick of wearing masks.
Several commissioners acknowledged that a whole lot of county residents let them know that they didn’t want the board to implement the new mask rules.
Guilford County Commissioner Carlvena Foster made the motion and Commissioner Carolyn Coleman seconded it. There was a discussion of the new mandate, even though the conclusion was foregone.
In the end, the vote was 6 to 3 to approve, with Commissioners Justin Conrad, Alan Perdue and James Upchurch voting against.
The virtual meeting was a rarity because the Board of Commissioners was meeting as the Guilford County Board of Health. (The commissioners voted the county’s health board out of existence years ago and took over that role.)
Before the first mask mandate was adopted earlier this month, Commissioner Justin Conrad warned the board about major issues of concern – legal and otherwise – but his legitimate complaints went largely ignored by fellow commissioners.
Conrad said at the Aug. 26 meeting that he appreciated the fact that Guilford County Attorney Mark Payne had listened to his concerns and made some adjustments in the newest mandate. Conrad said in the Zoom meeting that he still did not agree the measure should pass but he knew he was going to lose this battle.
“I can count,” Conrad said at one point in the meeting.
Payne said that the new mandate had some “clarifying language,” including making it explicit that schools were subject to the mandate.
There are so many studies showing cloth masks only capture 10%, surgical masks 12%, KN95s 40%, and N95s 60% of aerosols. When compared to people not wearing a mask indoors with mediocre air filtration, that mediocre purification outperforms ALL of them, even N95s. And air purification doesn’t eat, drink, or pull a mask down. They had a chance to encourage long term solutions, but were more focused on making sure kids in private school suffer too (none will fight for their own kids’ future).
I am ready and willing to contribute significant funds to lawsuits. They allowed no exceptions for scientifically proven MORE effective alternatives. They stated goals and used outdated and widely refuted science to hurt this county. Their insistence on including private and charter schools shows this is all about political science, not actual science.
We all knew our Democrat county commissioners have an average IQ of about 75, but they proved it, again, tonight. The worst are the ones doing it to their own kids!!! No, they won’t be able to explain how they didn’t know any better when their kids are adults, because I’m keeping emails where numerous actual studies were provided, and it is well recorded they ignored the people that voted for them because they dislike private school kids. That’s all this is. The kids of these people are going to know their mommy and daddy cared more about scoring political points in county politics than their development, mental health, or future. So sad. Elections have consequences – that’s obvious at all levels now.
You’re being generous with the word “average”. I would have used “combined”.
Agreed!
Masks are not perfect. No ever said they were. Recent studies show that they DO make a positive difference in reducing the spread of the virus when included with social distancing, frequently washing of hands and avoiding overly crowded indoor events. Check out the recent study from Duke University that studied the effect of masks in schools. My favorite study is the one that correlates red state hospitalization rates with anti-mask and anti-vaccine political agenda by local leaders. Red states have a 40% higher hospitalization rate where these nutters are the majority. (FL, MS, etc…)
Don’t be a nutter. You are better than that.
Nutter = guy or gal that reads internet findings that only support their narrow point of view and believe they know more than the majority of the scientific community. They also tend to believe government is ‘out to get them’ and that covid is a world wide conspiracy and that only they know the ‘real’ truth.
But as always. Discuss these topics with your personal doctor to know what is best for you personally. Don’t listen to nutters posting disinformation online.
Thank you for your input. The issue with us has never been about the efficacy of masks. Our issue is about liberty, choice and the rights we freely suggest to those who choose to not share our values. In America we are guaranteed rights which are not negotiable. Wear one or not. It’s your choice.
Heck yeah, let’s protest seat belts!!! Oooo, no shirt no shoe no service! What a crock. And really, smoking outside in the cold is bs, we should be able to smoke where ever we want! And shouldn’t my dog be able to poop where ever he wants!
Sounds like paradise.
How soon we forget NC was born & raised by the efforts of tobacco farmers! And yes, your dog should poop wherever he wants, it’s your responsibility to clean it up. Not because of an ordinance or law, frankly a dog turd is just like a mask, none of the government’s business, it’s simply common courtesy to clean it up, but theres always some a-holes who won’t. If you can show me irrefutable proof that masks are 100% effective 100% of the time I might wear one, until then I’ll use them to wipe my own turds.
Your entire statement is outdated and wrong.
If you stay up-to-date on the statistics that you use, you will see that nearly the opposite is true.
CDC (8/8/21) says Covid does not exist, as Covid 19 has never been isolated, nor been proven to cause 1 death. As a contributing factor, maybe.
There is also “zero” evidence that the current vaccines, do ANYTHING to prevent the spread of Covid. In fact, the current vaccines perpetuate the Delta strains. Of the recently diagnosed hospitalizations for Covid…. 78% were vaccinated. (PHD speaking to a medical forum 8/23/21).
Sorry, I’d rather be part of the “non moronic (non vaccinated) 22%…. that will not be affected by the Delta strain.
I also had Covid, in January… it was nothing as far as sickness goes. I had a headache, gastric issues, and lost taste and smell for 2 or 3 days. That was it! I’ve had bad colds that put it to shame. Not to mention 2 flu VACCINES, that damn near killed me. So, get off of your soapbox about mask, vaccines and social distancing…. keep weakening your natural immune system. It hasn’t worked yet and doubtful it will!
This Duke study only used mask wearers. It did NOT take into account nor study anyone NOT wearing a mask .
Proof positive you can manipulate data any way you want to reach any conclusion you desire.
FAKE NEWS
They also cause harm!!!! There are better options that aren’t dehumanizing and work better – enough to matter. I’m not responsible to cover my face like an Afghan woman in private businesses and schools where YUO are not going. Only very simple people that lack complex analytical abilities say “who cares if it harms, it “might” help with Covid. At best it’s extended it. The virus WILL run its course. It’s not going to get masked, vaccinated, or locked away. That stinks, but it’s still true. Get over yourself. How dare you tell women and children to “cover their faces” because you feel better.
If you want to wear a mask, by all means, wear a mask. But don’t go around telling everyone else they have to.
I don’t want to wear a mask. I will not wear a mask. It’s nobody’s f&^%ing business why I don’t want to wear one.
Just leave people alone to make their own decisions and live their lives as they see fit.
I think there’s plenty of “nutters” on the left … except they just utilize MSNBC and CNN to self-justify their narrow dogmatic viewpoint and anyone else who might quibble even slightly with their point of view is a xenophobe, bigot, domestic terrorist, or worse. Then they move on to have you silenced by any means necessary. They like discussion when it’s one way — they speak and you have to listen and obey. None of the left will touch the fact that a large portion of the unvaccinated are minorities because they don’t trust it (and considering medical testing done in bygone eras, I don’t blame them). Heck Biden and Harris said weeks before the election they would not trust that Trump vaccine. Then the story changed magically. Those are inconvenient truths. Yet we have the effort to keep that which they cry “is not political!” as political as possible. Refuse to comply.
You’re the “nutter” here– if not a moron or borderline moron preaching more “politically” leftist Fake News. The Duke “Study” was widely publicized as FLAWED a long time ago… only included Mask Wearers with no “control group” of Non-Wearers of Masks. Any truly scientific study re: medicine or other subject must contain both a Test and a Control “sample” and be able to be replicated for others to confirm results. Plus the “sample” must be large enough and representative of the populations studied in order to provide “statistically significant” results. Perhaps you should Google ” Research Studies or Statistics for “Dummies” before you quote more “science” to bolster your own flawed beliefs and/or MISLEAD others who may actually be HARMED longer-term by needless mask-wearing– esp. innocent children who are being manipulated by politicians who seem to have duped you with their constant lies.
See comments from Vic,American View and other commentators here. Get EDUCATED– instead of DUPED.
Face diapers are for people who talk sh*t.
That attitude has done FL so well.
How so, Chris? Please elucidate.
Yes, please elaborate. I’ve been in Florida for the past 10 days, to several large events and seen a grand total of THREE people in face diapers (with exception of grocery store employees) the entire time. One campus with 7,000 students and countless parents and their latest report from Friday indicated a total of 15 positive Covid tests with ZERO hospitalizations. I’ve talked to countless locals and found that the only place Florida seems to be struggling is in liberal media reports.
A mandate from Skip-the-Hyp. Guilford County Autocrat.
We are all so tired of these heavy handed fascist thinking they can control us. I’ll financially and otherwise suppory ANYONE running against the six as@hats!!!!!!
Well again into the breach. Our Democratic representatives presume to speak for all of us and force us to comply with a mandate that flies in the spirit of freedom.
Because they have the power to force , we have a right and obligation to do our business elsewhere. As I suggested last time this arose, vote with your wallet. The odds are against real representative government here in Guilford county,. If our voice isn’t heard here ,then we should look elsewhere for an opportunity to express our displeasure.
The upcoming super-spreader event in hallowed downtown is a good place to start. Suppose we decided to boycott this event and send a clear message. We’re not tied to the commerce of this county. A good way to cause change is to go where you, your resources and liberty are welcome.
Face diapers are for people who talk cr*p.
Is any single one of them an actual doctor? Wait….even some doctors aren’t trustworthy anymore when power is in play.
I’m sure my business will be on the snitcher’s naughty list again, because EACH INDIVIDUAL is the ultimate authority over their health and the health of their child(ren). FREEDOM MATTERS
I am about to loose a job that I love because I am unable to wear a mask and my boss does not want to risk the fine. I will no longer be shopping in Guilford County.
You are covered under the exception. Show it to your boss. Section IV.
https://www.guilfordcountync.gov/our-county/human-services/health-department/coronavirus-covid-19-info/covid-19-enforcement-board-of-health-rule
Face masks are for me.
That comment IS NOT from the real Austin Morris. Some little wanker thinks he’s being cute by impersonating me.
This is why I built a house in SC, away from King Cooper and these clowns running Guilford County. I still believe these mask mandates are not legal and if there is still any attorneys out there who aren’t bought and paid for by politicians, you should challenge.
maybe the ACLU will step in.
That’s a nice thought, and sometimes they do surprise us, but I wouldn’t hold my breath…
The medical science is clear that masks are no more effective than the so called “vaccine”, which it is not by definition, in preventing Covid. However, the political science is very clear that you can keep spouting a lie until it is accepted as truth by the unfortunate majority incapable of critical thinking. Good luck to those who took the jab of that monkey juice based on the government’s misinformation.
I did my shopping this morning in an adjacent county that has no needless mask decree. There are good restaurants in surrounding counties too. I need some stuff from my favorite bike shop, but I can order it online. I hate to do this, but I know a local government bully move when I see one. Seriously, I think I want to trust my immune system and the objective data that I follow instead of a bunch of manipulative fear-pushing media and local government loopys. When is this going to end? When there are zero cases? Oh! By the way Skippy, humans can give the covid to cats and dogs! And even though the chances are lower, those animals can give covid to humans. Better amend that decree Skip! Start masking all cats and dogs!!
Don’t tell them about the cats and dogs, or they might go full tilt crazy like they did in Australia, and go kill every animal at the shelter.
Someone please tell me how Guilford County is going to enforce the mask mandate. Many businesses are not going to enforce it; they want ALL customers to come on in. So, if by chance an individual is written up by one of the county’s ‘Mask Police,’ what are the chances that the ‘MP’ will encounter that person a second time? Obviously, if the ‘MP’ camps out at a particular business, the business will enforce the mandate while the ‘MP’ is there. Once the MP is gone, the business goes back to ignoring violators. I think I saw on TV that there are only four (4) MPs.
I’m seeing folks walking into businesses with the mask down on their neck or no mask at all; nothing is said to them.
This entire thing is about control; makes absolutely no sense at all, since it is not being strictly enforced.
You hit the nail on the head – it is all about control.
Thankfully, I don’t live in Guilford county, and I do my best to not patronize any businesses in Guilford county. I know this may hurt the businesses, but my aim is two fold – 1 – to let these businesses know that they won’t get a dime from me as long as they continue to operate in a communist county, and 2 – hopefully, as they start to feel pain, it will trickle up to the commissioners (and city council if necessary), either at the ballot box, or by them getting off their butts and letting the BoC know what’s really going on.
I know I’m just one person, and they could care less if I give them business, but hopefully there are enough of us to make a difference.
And if, while I’m in Guilford county, some government-Karen-type tries to issue me a fine for keeping my entire face on display, they can make me two copies, because I’m going to wipe my backside with the first one. The other will be deposited into the nearest trash receptacle.
I moved from Guilford County to Myrtle Beach, Would I be fined for not masking up if I had to stop for a meal or gas?
Walk tall and carry a big stick!
You’ll be just fine that way. You know what they say about snitches…
If Guilford County was serious about controlling the spread of COVID they would cancel all mass gatherings including A&T Homecoming and events at the Coliseum!
Does the City of Greensboro have any ADDITIONAL rules to those spelled out by County/Board of Health?
Do. Not. Comply.
They think they have power, but they do NOT have the consent of the governed.