Less than one hour after the Guilford County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to rescind the mask mandate put in place in August, Guilford County government sent out a press release reminding county residents that, while the county-wide mask mandate was gone, the pandemic was not.
The Monday, Nov. 15 press release – after noting that the board had voted unanimously to rescind the mandate effective immediately – stressed that that didn’t mean everyone could relax in the fight against the disease.
Guilford County Health Director Dr. Iulia Vann issued the following statement: “I want to encourage everyone to please remain vigilant and up-to-date on best practices regarding COVID-19 safety. I would also like to … strongly urge and recommend that those who are unvaccinated continue to wear a mask when in public spaces and indoors.”
Vann added that, since the colder months – and holiday months – are now here, it’s more important than ever that everyone five and up get vaccinated, avoid risky actions and follow preventative measures.
“We know that ultimately vaccination is our best chance at ending this pandemic and decreasing community spread,” she stated. “The Division of Public Health continues to host vaccination clinics for children and adults.”
The full schedule of available vaccinations can be found at www.GuilfordVaccination.com.
Chairman of the Guilford County Board of Commissioner Skip Alston cautioned in the press release that there’s a long way to go in the battle against COVID-19 and there’s “no set rulebook on how to mitigate a global pandemic.”
He also warned that things could get worse quickly.
There were a few hints at the November 15 virtual meeting that the board might revisit a new mask mandate at a future time if conditions warrant.
“Guilford County has seen this pandemic take turns for the better only to be followed by new and more challenging variants,” Alston noted in the Monday evening release.
Alston also pointed out that local health professionals will continue to watch the metrics – and county staff will update the board if those metrics begin to move in the wrong direction.
Yes, vaccination would be a wonderful idea. Do you know anyone who might have a vaccine for Covid? Something that would prevent us from getting Covid or spreading it? Something that doesn’t have significant risks and has been shown to have no long term dangers?
And is Free!
The Governor of New York recently rode the new East Side Access train in New York City. During the photo op, she was shaking hands with pretty much everyone, a much more likely vector of transmission than not wearing a mask. Who believes in science?
The board of Kommisars are the ones that need to be “gone”.