While the pandemic has long been over for most Americans, some Americans remain stuck in the past, including those in the White House.
Last month, President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden invited dozens of NCAA men’s and women’s national championship teams to attend a “College Athlete Day” event at the White House on June 12th. Nothing wrong with that.
But then early last week, the White House Office of Legislative Affairs sent email invitations to members of Congress requesting their presence at the event. There was just one extremely notable catch.
“According to the White House email, while lawmakers are not required to receive a COVID test in advance of this event, they will need to wear a mask and socially distance if they’re unvaccinated,” Fox News reported Saturday.
“Masking Guidance: Fully vaccinated guests are not required to wear a mask on the White House grounds. Guests who are not fully vaccinated must wear a mask at all times and maintain at least 6 feet distance from others while on the White House grounds,” the email reportedly read.
Say what? As word of the email went viral, backlash began brewing at lightening-fast speed.
Look:
They’re never going to stop this. Many of us warned of this in spring 2020 and now it’s metastasized immensely. This new round of masking will grow over the course of the next 18 months.
— Wet Bandit (@DPShuffle) June 10, 2023
What even constitutes being fully vaccinated? Aren’t they up to like 7 shots by now? I can’t even keep track anymore. I never even had one during the entire so-called “pandemic”. Surprisingly, I’m still breathing. Can’t seem to figure out why.
— Joe M (@JFieldsFan) June 10, 2023
@WhiteHouse: This is absurd & abusive. Young healthy athletes, the most vulnerable to vaccine injury, being treated like lepers. These talented, hard working individuals deserve this tribute to their achievement. Completely unacceptable to treat them like this#CovidianPolitics
— Sarah Donahue (@sdonahu2) June 11, 2023
The White House belongs to the people and the science shows masks don’t work (microns- read). Just don’t wear them. If you can’t enter, don’t go in. I would not participate in this farce anyone. My self- respect and dignity can’t be manipulated anymore. There is no honor in that
— ladycourt (@ladycourt33) June 10, 2023
If invited and required to wear a mask, I would not go.
I can’t believe they’d do this; but it shows you how stupid they think we are.
Anyone who attends in a mask cannot ever complain about masks or lockdowns or all the madness; Do not comply.
— Red Pill Robbie Rescue (@RobbieRescue) June 10, 2023
That’s the bad news. The good news is that the email was allegedly just a big ol’ mistake.
In a statement issued to Fox News, the White House said the guidance in the email was out of date and had been included inadvertently.
“According to a spokesperson, the White House may be planning to send out the most up-to-date guidance in another email just before Monday’s event. It’s unclear whether recipients of the original message received any kind of follow-up note saying the COVID guidance was out of date,” according to Fox News.
Mistakes sometimes happen, right? And at least the White House didn’t double down, which is how it usually responds to backlash and criticism.
Doubling down would have been a really bad look for the White House, especially since these days even hospitals are abandoning mask requirements.
“Several North Carolina healthcare providers will no longer require patients and guests to wear face masks, except in certain circumstances, beginning Tuesday,” North Carolina station WGHP station reported on Monday, March 27th.
“At 7 a.m. Tuesday, masks will become optional at Atrium Health, Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, CaroMont Health, Cone Health, Novant Health and Randolph Health facilities. The regional healthcare systems made the decision jointly.”
Many other hospitals elsewhere have also gone mask optional, much to the chagrin of mask zealots:
I found out today my hospital instituted a policy that I cannot ask any patient or visitor to wear a mask in the hospital
My hospital just went mask-optional for non HCWs. Wut?
— Alas that these evil days should be mine, RN (@wandererbyname) March 19, 2022
I resigned CNM position of 24 years Friday :sudden rule change to mask optional in hospital(except cancer care)- Thursday I was only masking person in hosp( that I saw) among staff or patients- now to get through my 3 months ( contract stipulates); N95, goggles, air filter
— Renata Reich Moise (@RRMoise) April 22, 2023
I’m an ED nurse. My hospital went “mask optional” this week and the Biden administration raised the white flag on day 1.
I don’t give a single shit what these administrators and politicians think. I’m not getting sick again. Mask up & protect yourselves, nobody else will. https://t.co/JyJed4jrtB
— Street Medic (@RndmStreetMedic) April 11, 2023
maybe this is a hot take but i dont think it should be optional to mask in a damn hospital pic.twitter.com/r6eEMh9xTK
— (@courtmort) April 26, 2023
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V. Saxena is a staff writer with a decade of experience as a professional writer, and a lifetime of experience as an avid news junkie. He holds a degree in computer technology from Purdue University. Saxena also contributes to BizPac Review.
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