After health officer quits, Orange County to lift mask requirement and reopen gyms, schools and bars [View all]

[quaint]

KTLA

Days after his predecessor abruptly quit, Orange County’s new interim health officer said Thursday that he will lift a requirement for residents to wear face coverings in public and instead recommend they do so to help reduce the spread of the coronavirus.

The move comes three days after Dr. Nichole Quick resigned as the county’s health officer following threats she received at a meeting and on social media over her order for people to wear masks in public when near others. Irate residents blasted the requirement, and the sheriff for the county of 3.2 million people said he wouldn’t enforce it.

Face coverings are required when residents are near others in public in neighboring Los Angeles and San Diego counties. In Riverside County, they are recommended, not required.

Jim Peterson, executive director of the Orange County Medical Association, said he’s concerned by the change and believes using a mask is a small sacrifice to protect grocery and other essential workers and those with health conditions.

“We think it’s just good public health policy right now,” he said. “We think requiring is better. We highly recommend people wear masks because it’s the only barrier we really have right now.”

Some people got upset, threatened the previous doctor, then the new doc set the county up for death. Goodie.