By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Parents opposed to masks and vaccines told the Wood County Board of Health Wednesday evening of the harm COVID regulations are causing children – and of the lawsuits they will be filing if the health board continues acting “illegally.”
Fifteen members of the public attended the meeting, with the majority wearing masks down on their chins.
The board listened to all the concerns about mandates and recommendations – and the board’s role in making those.
Board member Rachel Bowlus made a motion that the health commissioner or any health department employee not be able to make any policies or recommendations regarding masks or vaccines without board approval.
Board member Dr. Bob Midden asked that the motion be tabled until “extensive” discussion can be held.
Some of the parents at the meeting were under the false impression that the health department was planning to mandate vaccines for young children.
Health Commissioner Ben Robison tried to clear up that perception.
“To my knowledge, there is no effort to mandate vaccines for ages 5-11 in the state of Ohio,” Robison said. And there is no such plan to do so in Wood County. “It’s not something underway.”
The members of the public expressed displeasure with the health department’s efforts to promote COVID precautions.
Isaac Bailey told board members and Robison that he was “extremely disappointed” with them “copying and pasting” COVID narratives from the state and federal government.
“Last I checked, it’s the people of Wood County you work for,” Bailey said. “All you have caused is social and emotional damage for the children of Wood County. Congratulations.”
Bailey asked why the health department wasn’t promoting healthy eating, exercise and weight loss.
“Do something different,” he said.
“We are freedom-loving Americans capable of making informed decisions,” Bailey told the board.
David Desser introduced himself as a “freeborn man” who knows that the “first role of medical ethics is autonomy.” He said he has five children – two who struggle wearing masks. Their physician has advised the family to not wear masks, Desser said.
“This isn’t the government’s place,” he said.
One woman questioned the effects of the vaccines on children.
“We have no idea what the long-term effects are,” she said. “You want my kids to die? You want my grandkids to die?”
The government has no business dictating vaccines, she said.
“That’s between us, our doctors and our God. Parents control what happens to their kiddos,” she said.
Another parent, Brytanne Strayer said health department policies are a “manipulation of our God given rights.”
Citing from the Ohio Revised Code and the Northwest Ordinance, Strayer said a mask is a medical device – and the health department can’t require the use of a medical device. She accused the health department of practicing medicine without a license.
“I would think a board of your stature would understand that practicing medicine without a license is a fourth degree felony, and threatening our children to stay in school by wearing a medical device is illegal,” Strayer said.
Strayer also shared the experience of an 11-year-old boy, who has autism and stuttering issues, whose skills dropped drastically during online school and while being made to wear a mask.
“This is just one story, but we know there are many more,” she said. “So many parents feel like their voices and their stories do not matter.”
Louis Fahrbach, a member of Northwood City Council, said he has heard complaints from community members about a lack of consistency from the Wood County Health Department. Masks aren’t required at the Perrysburg library, but they are at the Walbridge library. Masks are required at the county courthouse, but not in other public places.
Fahrbach said that his research has shown that masks “do nothing to stop the actual spread” of COVID.
“When will this charade finally end?” he said. “Please remove mask mandates in all public buildings in Wood County.”
Robison explained that the health department can make recommendations but cannot mandate masks. Facilities like libraries set their own regulations.
The only school district in the county to still have mask mandates is Rossford, plus a couple private schools, Robison said.
Health Board President Cathleen Nelson explained that some mandates come from state or federal levels.
“We’re trying to take the best medical information available to us and do what’s best for Wood County,” Nelson said.
A Lake parent talked about her 7-year-old son having difficulty wearing a mask all day at school.
“It’s horrible what these children are going through,” she said.
She expressed concern about possible vaccine mandates in order for children to stay in school.
“The vaccines – we obviously are not a fan of them,” she said. “Nobody even knows the side effects of it.
Robison said he has four children, and “not one of us enjoys these masks.”
But the health department is responsible for helping the Wood County community as a whole navigate through the pandemic.
“Hearing these stories is really valuable to us,” he said.
“We have found ourselves at odds in our own community,” Robison said. “We have to find a way to build bridges. Striking that balance is challenging.”
Some of those present kept pressing on mask recommendations.
Desser said there is no difference in COVID transmission between areas where masks are worn and where they are not. “We have the data,” he said.
But Robison countered with local numbers.
“We’ve looked at our local data. We do see the benefits of mask use,” he said. And keeping kids healthy and in school is important. “The best place for kids educationally is in school.”
One man at the meeting said cloth masks are as good at keeping out the virus as a chain link fence is at keeping out a fly. He asked why anyone would want to wear “diapers all day on their face?”
Robison acknowledged that N95 surgical masks are more effective, but that other masks can also slow the spread.
“They help reduce transmission. Even a reduction can have a significant impact,” he said.
The man cited statistics on masks reducing oxygen to the brain, and said that Dr. Anthony Fauci said masks wouldn’t help. He accused the board of breaking the law by advocating for masks.
“How long do you think it’s going to be until you are sued?” he said to the board. “This is some serious shit … and a lot of Americans don’t appreciate it.”
Robison offered to make data available on the value of masks in slowing the spread.
But the man said a group is planning to sue the health department for practicing medicine without a license. “I’ll let you know the next time I come, I’ll come with my lawyer,” he said.
Later in the meeting, Midden, noted that while the COVID numbers in the county are dropping, 16 Wood County residents have died from COVID in the last three weeks – including a 52-year-old father of three who was otherwise healthy.
Midden, a scientist, talked about the value of wearing masks.
“I’m so saddened by this entire situation, and baffled why it is so political,” he said.
Credible scientific data is straightforward in its support of masks. “There’s very little ambiguity about that,” he said.
Midden said Fauci’s original statements about masks not being recommended for the public came very early in the pandemic when the case numbers were so low that it was unlikely people would encounter people with COVID. At that point, there was also a shortage of masks for medical use.
Current health professionals wear masks, Midden said.
“They’re not doing it for show. They are doing it because it protects them from COVID-19, and it can protect you also,” he said.
