Only in California...

Or at least I HOPE that this sort of thing is still going on only in California, and frankly, I am afraid to look because it would ruin my little faith in humanity if this becomes a trend.

Mask mandates are back. 

Back to the future: California counties impose seasonal mask mandate on health workershttps://t.co/nxCEfYh5F7 pic.twitter.com/1KlawPo7zB

— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) October 14, 2024

It has been over four years since mask mandates first came on the scene, and they were a ridiculous idea then and now a totally debunked idea now. But since COVID is now a religious issue and masks are a religious symbol, I shouldn't be surprised to see that some public health officials are requiring people to bow down in reverence. 

Mask mandates are back.

Several Bay Area counties in California will require health care workers to mask up from Nov. 1 to either March or April, an unusual revival of rules that sparked controversy during the height of the pandemic.

Alameda, Contra Costa, Santa Clara, San Mateo and Napa counties have issued the orders, which apply to workers at skilled nursing facilities, hospitals and other facilities. In some places, violations would be considered misdemeanor offenses punishable by fines or even imprisonment.

Counties say they are imposing the rules to try and stop the spread of COVID-19, flu and other seasonal viruses.

While the mandates aren’t as widespread as the ones public health care officials imposed in 2020-2021, they go against the grain. 

Most places have moved on from pandemic rules and some areas have considered a ban on face coverings that obscure someone’s identity. It’s already become a political issue in the Golden State.

“Mask mandates are making a comeback in California,” said Rep. Kevin Kiley, California Republican. “We must elect the right people to assure history doesn’t repeat itself.”

There is nothing silly about medical facilities working hard to avoid infection and transmission of bacteria and viruses, so I don't object in principle to taking precautions in such settings. It's just that masks are worthless and always were. This was well known when COVID hit in 2020 and has been demonstrated time and again with gold-standard studies. Public health officials who know this shouldn't require taking symbolic measures, and those who don't should be fired and kicked out the door. 

BREAKING: California Mask Dictators Bringing Back Mask Mandates

Alameda, Contra Costa, Santa Clara, San Mateo, and Napa counties have reinstated the mask requirements.

The local health orders require masks to be worn in hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and other… pic.twitter.com/ZqDglpGREN

— I Meme Therefore I Am 🇺🇸 (@ImMeme0) October 11, 2024

Requiring doctors to be fastidious about handwashing is common sense; requiring masking is stupid and harmful. Face-to-face communication is vital for the doctor-patient relationship and comforting for patients when visiting with family and friends. The last thing we need is less personal interaction when we are ill. Quite the opposite, in fact. 

The COVID hysteria has been devastating to the country. Public officials use fear to keep people in line. Even worse, they use hysteria to keep people at each others' throats. Sane people resist being bullied, and unstable people are encouraged to hate them. Masks are a signifier--they tell everyone which side you are on, nothing more. 

Will the hysteria ever break? I assume so. But it will be replaced with some other mass delusion.