Don’t claim public health is ‘priority’ when it apparently isn’t
In as fine an example of government doublespeak as we’ve heard in some time, Clark County on Tuesday issued a press release announcing that it is dropping its face masking requirement in most county facilities but yet — in the same breath, mind you — its “first priority is to protect the health, safety and well-being of all residents and visitors.”
You don’t say.
The county is no doubt reacting to the March 31 ruling by the Wisconsin Supreme Court that the COVID-19 public health emergencies ordered by Gov. Tony Evers do not meet Constitutional muster, and therefore, the order requiring people to wear face masks in public is nullified. Keep in mind, though, the high court ruled only that the governor did not have authority to enact such orders without getting approval from the state Legislature, not that the face mask requirement was ineffective in stopping the spread of COVID-19.
In fact, the state’s Department of Health Services, Clark County’s Public Health Department, and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention all still highly recommend that citizens follow pandemic protocols — including use of face masks and social distancing — while COVID-19 remains a threat. And yes, the disease’s presence surely has waned in this area, but there’s nothing like complacency to encourage a resurgence.
Clark County did shut down its courthouse in Neillsville and other government facilites to the public for a time when the pandemic was peaking here, but has since largely returned to business as usual. The face mask order was still in place until this week, when the county now announces it “continues to work through issues and concerns regarding the coronavirus (COVID- 19) response.”
The face mask order will continue at the Clark County Rehabilitation & Living Center near Owen, a wise move for the health care facility. Oddly, though, the face mask order will also remain in effect in the county’s circuit courtrooms “and associated offices on the fourth floor of the courthouse.”
Seriously? Face masks are not needed in all other places where the public visits, except when they come to pay a traffic fine or attend a divorce or custody hearing? Are we missing something here?
The county’s press release states face masks are no longer needed in the courthouse (minus the fourthfl oor exception), at the Highway Department facilities, nor at Adult Development Services in Greenwood. Rather, the county asks that citizens largely just stay away, to “avoid non-essential visits to county offices and facilities including the courthouse.” In other words, they’re saying it’s still dangerous to come out, but if you do, no need to protect yourself or others.
In the last paragraph of the release, the county says cooperation with its new guidelines will be appreciated. It reads, in part, “Providing essential services while doing what we can to help limit the spread of COVID-19 is a priority.”
Obviously, it’s not. Then just say so.
We’re not so politically nearsighted that we don’t see that Clark County is as red as a male cardinal’s feathers, and there are many citizens here who not only believe face mask orders are a violation of individual freedoms, but that COVID- 19 is a hoax to begin with. We’re not looking to stoke that fire, and, as a matter of fact, we admit, if the Clark County Board of Supervisors is to truly represent the interest of its conservative constituents, it should not be enacting any orders to tell people what to do.
What rankles us, though, is the hypocrisy of stating the government’s “priority” is the health and safety of everyone, when it’s clear that maintaining a safe political distance from the public health issue is what’s most important. If public health is a “priority,” then leave the mask order in place and have the political spine to maintain it even if the Supreme Court says you don’t have to.
Members of the TRG editorial Board include Publisher Kris O’Leary, Editor Dean Lesar, and Carol O’Leary.
