Return of the MASK: COVID 2.0 is already snaking its way across the country



If you thought the pandemic was over, we're sorry to say that you're wrong.

As the 2024 election looms closer and the presidential candidates are increasingly at each others' throats, so it seems COVID is at ours. And Lauren Chen is well aware.

“It does seem like COVID part two is back. That’s right, the pandemic strikes back,” Chen says. “A lot of people, if you ask me, have been a little too quick to move on and forget that hey, you actually had neighbors who are calling the police on you if you tried to have guests over.”

“There were actually people who were dying that were prevented from seeing their loved ones,” she adds.

We need to remember, because if we don’t, then it could easily all happen over again. And in some ways, it already is.

Lionsgate, a production company based in California, has re-implemented a mask mandate for some employees after a few employees tested positive for COVID.

The employees were told in an email to “wear a medical grade face covering (surgical mask KN95 or N95) when indoors except when alone in an office with the door closed, actively eating, actively drinking at their desk or workstation, or if they are the only individual present in a large open workspace.”

“If you are still afraid of COVID in this day and age, you haven’t been paying attention and you should probably go see some sort of mental health professional, rather than place all of your concern in something like COVID,” Chen says.

It’s not only the Hollywood studio that’s making a big deal out of re-implementing mask mandates. Morris Brown College has also reintroduced a mask mandate for both students and staff.

The college made this decision because there have been reports of students testing positive for COVID.

“Yes, the fatality rates for COVID are very similar to that of the flu. Do we institute mask mandates for the flu now? Absolutely not. It’s just something we live with and we understand that we live in a society. People get sick. So, the fact that some people out there still have this irrational fear when it comes to COVID,” Chen says. “It’s not based in science. It’s not based in medicine. This is an ideological thing.”


Want more from Lauren Chen?

To enjoy more of Lauren’s pro-liberty, pro-logic and pro-market commentary on social and political issues, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.

Fauci denies responsibility for school closures in interview after recommending lockdown policies



Outgoing White House chief medical adviser Dr. Anthony Fauci denied responsibility for school closures during the pandemic, insisting in an interview on Sunday he had "nothing to do" with it.

Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the government's chief spokesman during the COVID-19 pandemic, was asked by ABC News' Jonathan Karl whether it was a "mistake" to keep schools closed for as long as they were.

"I don’t want to use the word ‘mistake,’ Jon, because if I do, it gets taken out of the context that you’re asking me the question on," Fauci replied. "And I don't want to do that because that's just happened too many times over the last years with me."

Asked if the country paid "too high a price" with the government's pandemic response, Fauci said, "We should realize, and have realized, that there will be deleterious collateral consequences when you do something like that."

Fauci noted that nearly 1,500 children were killed by the coronavirus and said that public officials needed to balance safety with keeping schools open.

"You shouldn't discount that it does afflict children, so it isn't without consequence," Fauci said. "If you go back, and I ask anybody to go back over the number of times that I've said we've got to do everything we can to keep the schools open; no one plays that clip. They always come back and say, 'Fauci was responsible for closing schools.' I had nothing to do [with it]— I mean, let's get down to the facts."

"You're not the head of a school board," Karl suggested.

"Exactly," Fauci said.

\u201c"Was it a mistake...to see schools closed as long as they were?"\n\nFAUCI: "I had nothing to do with it!"\u201d
— RNC Research (@RNC Research) 1665934130

Prolonged school closures and the associated learning loss and mental health impact on children have become a source of lingering resentment for concerned parents. The reluctance of many school districts to reopen in 2020 and 2021, citing guidance from public health officials like Fauci, was politically divisive and at times led to contentious showdowns between parents and school boards.

A study from the Department of Education published in September found that average reading scores for 9-year-olds fell seven points in 2022 compared to scores in 2020, Fox News reported. The decline in reading scores was the largest drop in over three decades, and the study found the first recorded decline in math scores.

While it is true that Fauci never had direct authority to close schools, his words were influential on policymakers, and his various recommendations to keep schools closed were heeded.

In April 2020, Fauci reportedly "gave his blessing" to New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio's plan to close schools citywide. He also criticized Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) for attempting to open schools, warning that doing so would lead to an increase in infections.

\u201cFauci scolded @GovRonDeSantis for opening schools in fall20. And his constant caveats - schools can only open IF - gave unions & districts cover NOT to open. His refusal to acknowledge the harm to kids earlier this month, & now, his refusal to accept accountability is pathetic.\u201d
— Jennifer Sey (@Jennifer Sey) 1665971372

Fauci also repeatedly advised through 2020 that schools in areas of high viral transmission should remain closed and children participate in virtual learning.

\u201c8/4/20 Fauci on schools: \n\n"There may be some areas where the level of virus is so high that it would not be prudent to bring children back to school."\n\nIn clip, he endorses Zoom education & school closures in areas w/ COVID transmission. Fauci has never been for full reopening.\u201d
— Jordan Schachtel @ dossier.substack.com (@Jordan Schachtel @ dossier.substack.com) 1606749047

Sunday's interview was not the first time Fauci has been disingenuous about his policy recommendations. In an August interview with Fox News host Neil Cavuto, Fauci asserted, "I didn't shut down anything," in response to a question about COVID-19 lockdowns.

\u201cUnbelievable! Does Fauci NOT know that the Internet lives forever? HERE are the receipts:\n\nFauci: "I didn't shut anything down..."\nOh really? Roll tape!\u201d
— Justin Hart (@Justin Hart) 1661295916

He also deflected responsibility for public health guidance to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in another interview in July.

\u201cFAUCI YESTERDAY: "I didn't recommend locking anything down."\n\nFAUCI IN OCTOBER 2020: "I recommended to the president that we shut the country down."\u201d
— Townhall.com (@Townhall.com) 1658847427

However, in October 2020 Fauci said that he recommended to President Donald Trump that "we shut the country down" in response to the pandemic.

North Carolina single father jailed for 24 hours with no bond for refusing to wear mask in judge's courtroom



A judge in Harnett County, North Carolina, put a man in prison for showing up for jury duty without a face mask.

Gregory Hahn, 47, was jailed for contempt of court after he refused to wear a face mask in Judge Charles Gilchrist's courtroom. Gilchrist is reportedly the only judge in the county who has implemented a mask mandate.

On Monday, Hahn appeared for orientation with 98 other people who were summoned for jury duty. He says that prior to showing up on Monday, there was no notice that jurors were required to wear masks.

“There were signs saying no masks were required,” Hahn told local news station WRAL-TV. “We all walked in.”

According to Superior Court clerk Renee Whittenton, everyone in Gilchrist's courtroom is required to wear a mask, and the jurors were notified of this requirement at check-in.

“You can go in any district courtroom without a mask, you can come into superior court without a mask and the [district attorney’s] office without a mask, but with Judge Gilchrist he has a mandate that you must wear a mask,” Whittenton told WRAL.

The clerk said that any juror who did not have one was provided with a mask to wear.

But Hahn said potential jurors were not told about the mask requirements. There was no notice on his summons. And there is not signage at the courthouse indicating masks are required.

“I said, ‘I’m not going to wear a mask,’” Hahn said. “He said, ‘I understand you don’t want to wear a mask,’ and I said, ‘That is correct, sir,’ and he says, ‘Why?’”

Hahn said the judge asked him again if he would refuse to wear a mask in the courtroom. He told Gilchrist that was correct.

“[Gilchrist] said ‘24 hours in the Harnett County jail,’” Hahn told WRAL.

Hahn was then handcuffed, booked, and taken to jail under no bond for contempt of court.

"I never thought this could happen in this country," Hahn said.

Harnett and Lee Counties issued a joint order on March 10, 2022, permitting the presiding judge in each courtroom to decide, at their discretion, whether masks are required, WRAL reported. Masks are optional in hallways, foyers, restrooms, meeting rooms, and other areas elsewhere in the courthouse.

Hahn said he asked the judge if he could be excused since it was one day in jail.

He recounted that Gilchrist said, "I could, but I'm not going to."

Hahn, a single father, also asked if he could call his son at home. The judge refused, Hahn said.

“I was dumbfounded,” Hahn said. “I felt it was bullying.”

He told WRAL that his 24 hours spent in jail were the worst of his life and accused the judge of bringing in his personal beliefs into the courtroom.

"I'm jailed for doing my civic duty and not doing anything," Hahn said. "It's mind-boggling."

He added that the judge acted hypocritically and told WRAL he's considering filing a lawsuit.

“The irony of this whole thing is that the judge was talking to me without a mask on,” Hahn told WRAL.

Watch:

Feminism Is Key To The Left’s Post-Covid Reset, But They Can’t Get Their Oppression Story Straight

Were women less able or better able than men to deal with the stresses of Covid? Progressives can't figure out their own message.

FACT CHECK: Does This Video Show Ukrainian Police Declining To Enforce COVID-19 Lockdowns And Mandates?

The footage shows an unrelated demonstration in 2014

Trudeau Does Not Want To End The Protests Peacefully. He Wants Violence

Everything Justin Trudeau has done since the protests began has made a confrontation between protesters and police all but inevitable.

FACT CHECK: Does This Image Show Over 1.5 Million Cars Supporting The Freedom Convoy In Australia?

The image shows a 2019 festival in the U.K.

Washington DC To Drop COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates For Businesses

The mask mandate is also set to expire

Canadian provinces lift COVID mandates amid Freedom Convoy protests



No fewer than four Canadian provinces are set to lift COVID-19 restrictions amid the Freedom Convoy protests.

Hundreds of truckers have gathered in Ottawa in protest of what they say are draconian COVID-19 mitigation measures.

What are the details?

According to a Thursday report from the Associated Press, Alberta, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, and Saskatchewan have announced plans to reduce or remove all COVID-19-related measures.

The report noted that Alberta, for instance, "dropped its vaccine passport for places such as restaurants" and is "getting rid of masks at the end of the month."

"A growing number of Canadian provinces have moved to lift some of their precautions as the omicron surge levels off, but [Canadian Prime Minister Justin] Trudeau defended the measures the federal government is responsible for, including the one that has angered many truck drivers: a rule that took effect Jan. 15 requiring truckers entering Canada to be fully vaccinated," the news organization noted in its report.

During a news conference this week, protest organizer Benjamin Dichter said that both the government and the media are "drastically underestimating the resolve and patience of truckers."

“Drop the mandates. Drop the passports,” he demanded.

Anything else?

Trudeau has lashed out at protesters, referring to them as nothing more than a "few people shouting and waving swastikas."

"Individuals are trying to blockade our economy, our democracy, and our fellow citizens' daily lives," he complained during an emergency Parliament session this week. "It has to stop. The people of Ottawa don't deserve to be harassed in their own neighborhoods."

On Tuesday night, Alberta Premier Jason Kenney said he believed the threat of COVID-19 "no longer outweighs the hugely damaging impact of health restrictions on our society."

"Now is the time to begin learning to live with COVID," he added.

Beginning Wednesday, the capacity limits of under 500 for public venues, libraries, and churches will end, and by Monday, the province will end its mask mandate for schoolchildren.

On March 1, the province plans to remove the indoor mask mandate and more.

“I very much hope that today’s long-awaited announcement gives a sense of optimism,” Kenney said.

He added, "We are well positioned to live with this virus, as we do with many other infectious diseases.”

(H/T: The Daily Wire)

Dem. governors in New Jersey, Delaware set to drop in-school mask mandates: We need to get kids 'back to normal'



Blue-state governors of both New Jersey and Delaware have set timelines to wrap up in-school mask mandates, according to a Monday report from the New York Times.

What are the details?

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) and Delaware Gov. John Carney (D) on Monday announced mask mandates in schools would soon wind to a close.

A spokesperson for Murphy's office told CNN on Monday that the governor's office plans to announce a timeline to end the state's school mask mandate next month, allowing students and school officials to be unmasked as of March.

Murphy, along with other state officials, is expected to hold a COVID-19 briefing on Monday.

Murphy told the Times on Sunday that the March timing is due in part to the region's improving weather and added that getting rid of masks would be a "huge step toward normalcy."

Carney on Monday added that Delaware is in a "much better place than we were several weeks ago in the middle of the Omicron surge[.]"

"I want to be clear about this point — COVID is still circulating in our communities. And the virus still poses a risk of serious illness, particularly among those who are not up to date on their vaccinations," he continued. "But we have the tools to keep ourselves and each other safe."

Carney announced that the in-school mask mandate is set to expire on March 31.

In January, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf (D) rescinded the state's in-school mask mandate, and Democratic governors of states such as Connecticut and New York are also in the process of re-evaluating mask mandates in schools, the Times added.

What else?

Dr. Lucy McBride, a Washington, D.C.-based internist, said that it's high time for school and students to get "back to normal."

“We need to get them back to normal,” McBride said, calling for an end to mask mandates "I think the dam is breaking. It’s hard to speak out because there’s been this sort of protect-against-COVID-at-all-costs attitude, which made sense in 2020, when we had no vaccines. It just doesn’t add up any more.”

At the time of this reporting, at least 13 states still have school mask orders in place, according to the National Academy for State Health Policy.

On Sunday, former Food and Drug Administration head Dr. Scott Gottlieb told CBS News that he believes more and more states will begin removing mask mandates.

“When prevalence is low ... we can start to lean forward and take a little bit more risk and try to at least make sure that students in schools have some semblance of normalcy for this spring term,” Gottlieb added.