A Concerned Scientist @BE@qoto.org

@TerriBlue416

Awww, keep doing your best. None of this is easy.

@onlynow @trishanderton

I did not catch that when I quickly looked up NY, so thank you for sharing it!

@JenX

Absolutely. So, here's Virginia's law:

VIRGINIA Section 18.2-422:
Prohibition of wearing of masks in certain places; exceptions.
It shall be unlawful for any person over sixteen years of age while wearing any mask, hood or other device whereby a substantial portion of the face is hidden or covered so as to conceal the identity of the wearer, to be or appear in any public place, or upon any private property in this Commonwealth without first having obtained from the owner or tenant thereof consent to do so in writing. However, the provisions of this section shall not apply to persons (i) wearing traditional holiday costumes; (ii) engaged in professions, trades, employment or other activities and wearing protective masks which are deemed necessary for the physical safety of the wearer or other persons; (iii) engaged in any bona fide theatrical production or masquerade ball; or (iv) wearing a mask, hood or other device for bona fide medical reasons upon the advice of a licensed physician or osteopath and carrying on his person an affidavit from the physician or osteopath specifying the medical necessity for wearing the device and the date on which the wearing of the device will no longer be necessary and providing a brief description of the device. The violation of any provisions of this section shall constitute a Class 6 felony.

Notice that it *does* have a specific carve out for "protective masks which are deemed necessary for the physical safety of the wearer or other persons" which the Florida law does not. You would hope that would make it clear that a mask during COVID times would be allowed, but, given that Jha even recently said “There is no study in the world that shows that masks work that well" I assume that any governor that wanted to could jump on that statement and say that masks aren't protective.

@InayaShujaat@mastodon.nzoss.nz

It's all in the enforcement. The law's been on the books here in Florida since 1951. There's 11 states who have similar laws, currently, and they're mostly anti-KKK laws. For example, California has a similar law. There's probably very little chance that in the average California town it's enacted against someone wearing an N95, I would assume. Although every state has it's red areas that might decide differently.

However, before COVID these laws have often been used against people who wear masks for allergies or chemical sensitivities. Now add in the DeSantis factor, the politicalization of masking, etc. and I would be very surprised if it's not weaponized against mask wearers in Florida, at least.

Let's thrown in another example. Georgia has almost the identical law. I wouldn't bet against Georgia weaponizing it to effectively ban masks, either.

In the end, my point is that ending the emergency declaration has all sorts of consequences that all of the people saying it's fine and no big deal aren't thinking through.

@tjradcliffe

I only pay attention to excess mortality anymore and last I saw that was over 700 people a day in the US in 2022.

@winissen

It's all in the enforcement, right? It certainly doesn't meet any of the exemptions and, as our local law enforcement has made clear the believe it fits the applicability. I would assume under paragraph 3.

@SuperSluether

To be honest I hadn't even focused on that part, but, it kind of does sound that way. In the end, it's all in the enforcement.

@pgavin

Will probably be enforced differently there, but, here's California's:

CALIFORNIA Penal Code Section 182-185
185. Section One Hundred and Eighty-five. It shall be unlawful for any person to wear any mask, false whiskers, or any personal disguise (whether complete or partial) for the purpose of: One--Evading or escaping discovery, recognition, or identification in the commission of any public offense. Two--Concealment, flight, or escape, when charged with, arrested for, or convicted of, any public offense. Any person violating any of the provisions of this section shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor.

@dbattistella

Absolutely working on it, but that was just an example. There's 11 states with similar laws and probably quite a few local jurisdictions as well. Depending on how states handle it, this will be a shock to a lot of people in the US.

@thehomespundays

Probably correct. A large group of people have the belief that ending the emergency declaration won't have any impact on their lives. I see it all over last night and today.

"Oh well, I have insurance. I'm sure it'll pay for anything I need."

"Wear a mask if you want."

"Biden couldn't get more funding from Congress anyway, this doesn't change anything."

Because everyone's lived through the same pandemic period of time in which an emergency declaration was in place, I don't think they have thought through what it actually covers. I suspect a lot of people, and not just the 7-15 million who will lose their Medicaid benefits, will find that they don't really like what happens after May 11th.

@pixelpusher220

I only dug into it much at the state level, personally. I believe there's 11 states that have state-wide laws on it. A quick search earlier today showed multiple local jurisdictions, as well.

Yes, many of them were once upon a time well meaning laws, but if they were being enforced against people trying to avoid chemical sensitivities and allergies before the pandemic just imagine how red states, in particular, will enforce them now.

@Tbsa

I hear you. My wife's friend and her husband went into work all week last week, in California, while symptomatic with COVID.

@NadiaYvette @trishanderton

People's entire pandemic view has been shaped by the fact that they've been in an emergency declaration for virtually the entire time. I know that most people don't understand how dramatically things could change with the end of the US emergency declaration.

@NadiaYvette @trishanderton

It's an open question as to what each state does with the upcoming situation. With the end of the US emergency declaration I assume that means states would be completely on their own as to funding anything they want to continue. A state like NY could, theoretically, do that. As of now NY's emergency declaration ends in March, it appears. I'd keep an eye on what the Governor does with it then.

@trishanderton

I notice you mention NYC in your bio, so for your reference here's the NY state law on the subject:

NEW YORK Penal Law 240.35 (4):
Being masked or in any manner disguised by unusual or unnatural attire or facial alteration, loiters, remains or congregates in a public place with other persons so masked or disguised, or knowingly permits or aids persons so masked or disguised to congregate in a public place; except that such conduct is not unlawful when it occurs in connection with a masquerade party or like entertainment if, when such entertainment is held in a city which has promulgated regulations in connection with such affairs, permission is first obtained from the police or other appropriate authorities;

@trishanderton

I'm sure you're correct on that. He pulled her over to his car in the parking lot while she was outside. The grocery store had ostensibly called the police to *help* her because an anti-masker was following her around inside threatening her. He had other ideas about the situation.

@mathew1927

I can confirm they're counting the days down here.

@IPEdmonton

We have actually been planning on moving out of Florida for years, since prior to the pandemic, but we hope to actually pull it off this year.

While I quoted my local one, there's many states that have these same rules. A lot of them are anti-KKK laws that have been enforced, since prior to the pandemic, against people with chemical sensitivies or allergies who wear masks:

https://www.anapsid.org/cnd/mcs/maskcodes.html

I'd like to point out to anyone who thinks that "you do you" public health is sustainable that it's illegal to wear a mask in many public places in the US. This has only been on hold because of the emergency declaration and that's about to end.

For example, let me introduce you to my local law in Florida. Florida State statute 876.12:

Wearing mask, hood, or other device on public way.—No person or persons over 16 years of age shall, while wearing any mask, hood, or device whereby any portion of the face is so hidden, concealed, or covered as to conceal the identity of the wearer, enter upon, or be or appear upon any lane, walk, alley, street, road, highway, or other public way in this state.

This law was pointed out to my wife by a law enforcement officer who really wanted to arrest her for wearing a mask in a grocery store last year.

If you think you're going to be able to avoid COVID after the end of the emergency declaration you'd better be a full on hermit who never has to venture out.

@ZeroCovidColin

We are right there with you. My wife was informed this morning that while she's been allowed to not attend in person meetings and be fully remote up until now, once the emergency declaration ends she won't have that option anymore. We're at least grateful that they essentially gave her 3 months to find a new job. They had to know she wouldn't agree to go back into the schoolhouse.