The following report is from WSBT 22:
A war of words tonight in St. Joseph County government. The battleground: coronavirus safety guidelines.
Two county commissioners sent out a letter saying they will oppose any new coronavirus safety guidelines. The health department says those commissioners are misrepresenting the situation and causing confusion.
No new mandates or restrictions have been put in place, but that didn’t stop Republican commissioners Derek Dieter and Deb Fleming from voicing their opposition to that possibility.
The health department says the county officially moved into the substantial transmission category today, and they say this letter damages trust in public health.
Commissioner Derek Dieter says he sent the letter out after receiving more than a dozen phone calls from constituents worried about new coronavirus restrictions.
The CDC announced new guidance earlier this week that fully vaccinated people should put their masks back on in indoor public places.
This is ridiculous, we don’t need this again. We went through a whole year. Destroyed businesses, really messed up kids minds and all the drama.
Derek Dieter
In the letter, Dieter and Fleming slammed the CDC, calling them ‘unreliable’ and saying individuals should make health decisions — not public health agencies.
I’ve heard loud and clear from all those people that they don’t want to be told to wear masks again. If you want to, awesome. If you don’t want to, that should be your right that you don’t have to do that.
The third commissioner on the board– Republican Andy Kostielney– did not sign on to the letter and when we asked him about it, he said he didn’t have any additional comment.
But the letter did not sit well with the county health department.
When I first learned of the statement last night, one, I looked to see if it came from the onion or if it was some spoof account.
Dr. Mark Fox
Deputy Health Officer Dr. Mark Fox says the letter has caused confusion and says it will contribute to preventable COVID hospitalizations and deaths.
Fox says Commissioner Dieter should look at the changing guidance from a different viewpoint.
9-11 was a seismic change in law enforcement and security procedures. That’s an area he knows. I wouldn’t presume to tell him how to do law enforcement or security, but if we were doing law enforcement and security now post 9-11 the same way we were before, we’d be in a world of hurt.
Dieter said in our interview that he does not have faith in the St. Joseph County Health Department or its leaders.
Again, the health department has not put any new guidance or restrictions in place but is urging people to follow guidance from the CDC.
AUTHOR COMMENTARY
[31] The same day there came certain of the Pharisees, saying unto him, Get thee out, and depart hence: for Herod will kill thee. [32] And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.Luke 13:31-32
Dr. Fox is a fox indeed. Do you realize what that sicko is saying? All those constitutional rights that are obligations to Americans, are trampled upon unjustly because the government says “we have to protect you.”
I live in St. Joe county, and this county was one of the last in the state to get rid of it’s masking and social distancing guidelines, long after the CDC changed their stances a few months ago. The WinePress has been politically neutral (the way news outlet should always be), but the reason for this is because the city of South Bend and other towns, with great influence from the University of Notre Dame, has been progressively ran for a quite longtime. After all, the current Secretary for Transportation Pete Buttigieg used to be the mayor of South Bend.
But beyond that, the masks will be back again, and I will NOT be wearing one, as I have not worn one from day one. And again, while these Republicans are standing up against the masks, they will not stand against the vaccines. There is a line they cannot cross or they will be dealt with.
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However, the School City of Mishawaka, not too far from me, will not be mandating masks, but is open to change the policy if they have to (which we know that they will). They start school on the 11th.
At this point, we plan to remain mask-optional for the start of the school year. We know what the C.D.C. did recommend, but we had this plan in place and we really feel we’ve been dealing with this pandemic for 18 months. There’s a lot of information out there and we feel our parents are the best ones to make that choice on whether their children should be masked or not.
Superintendent Wayne Barker
[7] Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? [8] Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also? [9] For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? [10] Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope. (1 Corinthians 9:7-10).
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