Bayfield County Emergency Mask Advisory

Effective Friday, July 17, 2020 at 8:00 am, Ashland and Bayfield County Public Health are issuing an Emergency Advisory which stipulates that everyone age 5 and older wear a face covering or mask when in any enclosed building where other people, except for members of the person ’s own household or living unit could be present. This advisory applies to all of Ashland and Bayfield County.

From the joint press release of Ashland county and Bayfield county Health Departments. There are several flaws and issues I have with the press release.

Effective Friday, July 17, 2020 at 8:00 am, Ashland and Bayfield County Public Health are issuing an Emergency Advisory

This is great and if this is, in fact, an emergency, why are the counties waiting until Friday, July 17? Also what’s so special about the 8:00 am start time?

“Public health research shows that face coverings are critical to slowing the spread of COVID-19. Given the number of infections in our counties and surrounding area, as well as the multitude of visitors coming to our area, we need to all be wearing face coverings every time we leave the house,” stated Elizabeth Szot, Ashland County Health Officer.

The second paragraph of the press release starts with a flagrant lie. Anyone with a few minutes of searching is readily able to find credible contradictions to the assertion from reputable public health sources.

CIDRAP Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy

COMMENTARY: Masks-for-all for COVID-19 not based on sound data

Data lacking to recommend broad mask use

We do not recommend requiring the general public who do not have symptoms of COVID-19-like illness to routinely wear cloth or surgical masks because:

Let us also remember that at the beginning of the year -

CDC says no need for face masks; Ozarks stores selling out amid coronavirus scares

And in case you wanted additional experts, medical and scientists to chime in on the matter, here is a link to the often-cited New England Journal of Medicine article regarding masks.

Universal Masking in Hospitals in the Covid-19 Era

List of authors.Michael Klompas, M.D., M.P.H., Charles A. Morris, M.D., M.P.H., Julia Sinclair, M.B.A., Madelyn Pearson, D.N.P., R.N., and Erica S. Shenoy, M.D., Ph.D.

This reference of the New England Journal of Medicine is often cited, and in this case, it is the entire article and not just a snapshot.

From the NEJM article -

What is clear, however, is that universal masking alone is not a panacea. A mask will not protect providers caring for a patient with active Covid-19 if it’s not accompanied by meticulous hand hygiene, eye protection, gloves, and a gown. A mask alone will not prevent health care workers with early Covid-19 from contaminating their hands and spreading the virus to patients and colleagues. Focusing on universal masking alone may, paradoxically, lead to more transmission of Covid-19 if it diverts attention from implementing more fundamental infection-control measures.

Here in Wisconsin, Wisconsin law gives the governor powers to declare emergencies in response to natural and human-caused disasters, threats to vital telecommunications systems and threats to public health.

323.10  Declaration by governor. The governor may issue an executive order declaring a state of emergency for the state or any portion of the state if he or she determines that an emergency resulting from a disaster or the imminent threat of a disaster exists. If the governor determines that a public health emergency exists, he or she may issue an executive order declaring a state of emergency related to public health for the state or any portion of the state and may designate the department of health services as the lead state agency to respond to that emergency. If the governor determines that the emergency is related to computer or telecommunication systems, he or she may designate the department of administration as the lead agency to respond to that emergency. A state of emergency shall not exceed 60 days, unless the state of emergency is extended by joint resolution of the legislature. A copy of the executive order shall be filed with the secretary of state. The executive order may be revoked at the discretion of either the governor by executive order or the legislature by joint resolution.

Local governments are also empowered to declare a state of emergency within their jurisdictions for various threats that may impair "transportation, food or fuel supplies, medical care, fire, health or police protection or other critical systems of the local unit of government." State statute also says the length of a local emergency declaration can be as long as "the emergency conditions exist or are likely to exist."

State Statute - 323.11  Declaration by local government. The governing body of any local unit of government may declare, by ordinance or resolution, an emergency existing within the local unit of government whenever conditions arise by reason of a riot or civil commotion, a disaster, or an imminent threat of a disaster, that impairs transportation, food or fuel supplies, medical care, fire, health or police protection, or other critical systems of the local unit of government. The period of the emergency shall be limited by the ordinance or resolution to the time during which the emergency conditions exist or are likely to exist.

While the governor’s powers are limited to 60 days, a local government declaration appears to be open-ended. State Statute 323.11 wording is certainly vague and nebulous. (As of this writing I’m waiting to see City of Bayfield Emergency Order/Resolution: Mask Requirement)

Dr. Russell Blaylock warns that not only do face masks fail to protect the healthy from getting sick, but they also create serious health risks to the wearer. The bottom line is that if you are not sick, you should not wear a face mask.

We might do well to heed Dr. Blaylock than the regurgitation of the statist media line.

#covid19 #masks #maskmandate #bayfieldwi #wisconsin #facecoverings #publichealth