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Residents support optional use of face masks during pandemic

By Wesley LeBlanc wesley@opcfla.com
Posted 7/8/20

CLAY COUNTY – Face masks intended to prevent the spread of the coronavirus are now mandatory in Jacksonville in all public and indoor places.

It’s the latest step the city is taking to keep …

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Residents support optional use of face masks during pandemic


Posted

CLAY COUNTY – Face masks intended to prevent the spread of the coronavirus are now mandatory in Jacksonville in all public and indoor places.

It’s the latest step the city is taking to keep coronavirus numbers down and flatten the curve. Clay County emergency management services director said it’s unlikely that Clay County will make masks mandatory at a special Board of County Commissioners meeting on June 30. We asked residents of the county if they believe that’s the right call or if they prefer the mandates created in Jacksonville and St. Augustine.

The responses were overwhelmingly in favor of keeping them optional, although some residents who responded to Clay Today’s Facebook question said they applauded the Jacksonville decision.

“If nurses, doctors and essential workers have to wear them to serve the public, I would say that a minor ‘inconvenience’ is worth the price to support them and each other,” Natalie Beaty-Vickery said. “We talk a lot about the sacrifices our military soldiers make to help and defend this country. Well, now is the time that we should all come together [figuratively speaking] and make some sacrifices.”

Beaty-Vickery continued on and said she doesn’t see Clay County making masks mandatory because while there is “a lot of flag waving and talk of constitutional rights,” there aren’t people willing to talk the talk and walk the walk. She said “freedom requires sacrifice” and that as a “veteran with 15 years of service to this country,” she would like to thank nurses, doctors and essential workers for their service to the country.

Sheri Freshour agreed, asking why it’s hard to consider the lives of others during this time in our country.

“How hard is it to think about others?” Freshour said. “Apparently, really hard. Scientists say this pandemic could be minimal if everyone wore masks and practiced social distancing, but unlike other countries where there is almost nothing, here is America with the highest numbers of all.”

Jimmy Netherton said he’s all for mandatory masks but that if such a mandate is made, the masks required should be N95 or better. Michaela Hackett said she believes Clay County will soon follow Jacksonville’s lead on mandatory masks.

Despite the shows of support for mandatory masks, the majority of those that responded to Clay Today said they would not support a mandatory mask mandate.

“If you’re sick, stay home,” Laura French said. “Masks are too hot and if I catch a virus while wearing a mask, it’s because I keep having to move it off my face so I can breathe or talk to a retail customer service person that can’t hear me trying to talk through the mask. If your immune system is not at its best, then you can wear a mask – not me.”

Monica Ward said she hasn’t worn a mask – and doesn’t plan too. She responded with the hashtag “#barefaceislegal” alongside her response. John Burdick said the government shouldn’t decide how to keep people safe from the virus. He said that if you shouldn’t be going out into the public, then you shouldn’t and that if you do and get the virus, you should take responsibility for your actions. Stop expecting the government to save you, Burdick said.

Jamie Jainnuzzi responded with an image of a person wearing a mask and written on the mask is the following: “You can use anything for a mask because it’s not about safety; It’s about compliance.”

The majority of the other responses Clay Today received were simple, stating just the word “no” if Clay County should make masks mandatory.

Is wearing a mask during this global pandemic a matter of compliance or is it a matter of safety? Let us know on our Facebook page by responding to the post about mandatory masks in Jacksonville and St. Augustine.