RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — Many protesters on the UNC-Chapel Hill campus recently partially covered their faces with masks.
Some participants were detained or arrested. The incident, which lasted several days, led North Carolina's state legislature to vote in favor of a new law to address the mask issue.
“The intent of the original bill was to ensure that people, criminals who are out there intent on committing a crime, cannot conceal their identity with some sort of mask or hood. And I think that's the right thing to do,” said state Rep. Erin Pare.
But Senate Republicans went further, removing a provision that would have allowed mask-wearing in public for medical purposes.
Pare, a Republican who represents part of Wake County, said that's going too far. She believes people with health issues should be able to protect themselves and others.
“Removing these provisions has caused confusion and fear among good people that they may be breaking the law if they go out wearing a mask, especially in a post-COVID-19 world. So that's not allowed. I think they have the absolute right and freedom to do that, and we shouldn't judge that or pass judgment on it. It's necessary to maintain the health and safety of individuals. If you feel that way, you have the right to do so,” Pare said.
Dr. Cameron Wolfe, an infectious disease expert at Duke Health, said the effectiveness of masks is backed by science and the pandemic has proven that. He is concerned about laws that interfere with patient health.
“My role typically involves caring for a large number of patients who have undergone transplants, chemotherapy and bone marrow transplants, who continue to be at risk for many infectious diseases. Pandemics are now in the distant past. It feels like, even today. And we have, for the first time, data that has accumulated over the last four years, and I think it shows that, purely from a medical perspective. I want to make it as easy as possible for my patients to help them, but at the end of the day, this seems to provide a lot of barriers, which I don't want. It's not helpful, this whole issue has been politicized from the beginning, and it's adding fuel to the fire of the public who believe it will be harder for my patients to feel comfortable if they have to wear a mask,” Dr. Wolf said. said.
The state senator explained his position on the issue.
“Going back to pre-COVID times does not jeopardize prosecution of anyone,” said state Sen. Buck Ward.
Mr. Ward explained the reason for removing this clause as follows: ”
But Rep. Pare disagrees and plans to vote “no” on the Senate version, and believes he is not the only Republican to do so.
“I can tell you that there are several members of my own caucus who have expressed concerns about this, so I think they probably won't agree to the changes in the Senate and we'll be back to a clean slate, so to speak. I think so,” she said.
