'Waiting to happen': the California region where masks are taboo - and cases are rising

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Rural northern California is seeing a troubling rise in Covid-19 cases and hospitalizations, an alarming trend that comes as residents and businesses continue to protest against safety measures and vaccinations – with one Mendocino cafe threatening to charge customers $5 for wearing a mask.

While the region makes up a small proportion of the state’s population, the growth in its caseload has been considerable, and comes at a time when the state overall is enjoying some of the lowest rates of Covid in the country. After largely avoiding the worst of the pandemic, a block of far northern California counties now leads the state with nearly 40 cases per 100,000 residents over the past week, according to statistics maintained by the Los Angeles Times. Tehama county ranked the highest in the LA Times case ratings with 139 cases per 100,000 residents. Meanwhile 10 of the 21 total Covid deaths in nearby Siskiyou county have occurred since the beginning of May.

The region has long been one of the most forceful in its pushback against measures such as masks, business restrictions and vaccine mandates – and the protests have only continued to gain steam. A cafe in the town of Mendocino made headlines after announcing it will charge customers a $5 fee if they order while wearing a mask. It also threatened to charge $5 to anyone “caught bragging about your vaccine”.

“It’s about time the proponents of these ineffective government measures start paying for the collateral damage they have collectively caused,” the cafe owner Chris Castleman told NBC News. He also offered a 50% discount to customers who threw their masks in the trash.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/waiting-happen-california-region-where-100038690.html

[Hugh_Lebowski]

1. I would recommend avoiding the area (nt)

[SWBTATTReg]

4. I fully agree! Especially now since it is looking like Covid-19 is there to stay for some time...

Can't say they weren't warned plenty of times so my heart strings are not being tugged one bit...we've all seen sorrows on other parts of the Country devastated by this disease.

The fact that these idiots in northern Calif. are mocking / have mocked attempts elsewhere in the Country to rein in the disease in by wearing masks, social distancing leaves me feeling angry at these morons and I'll have zero empathy should they get sick/die.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

2. Charles Darwin approves.

Link to tweet

[kysrsoze]

3. F*** 'em. They made their bed...

[DBoon]

5. sizeable right wing militia presence, too

https://www.democraticunderground.com/104026117

[appleannie1]

6. That area will be added to my "avoid at all cost" list after Florida and Texas.

[Blues Heron]

7. Fiddleheads cafe needs to have their license yanked For public endangerment

Coercing people to remove their masks is evil. Chris Castleman should be locked up. Boycott Fiddleheads- their menu is all about healthy natural options, but it’s clear the owner has little regard for the public’s health.

[RockRaven]

8. Just as there are failing red counties in blue states, there failing red areas in blue counties

I was looking at my county's vaccinate data, and the rural zip codes in my very blue county are lagging significantly despite aggressive and persistent vaccine outreach by the county's health department.

The difference, of course, is that here the county is aggressive and persistent at all levels in addressing COVID, whereas in these red counties the county governance is often a co-conspirator in the problem. Boards of Supervisors and Sheriff's have actively opposed and undermined health departments/chief medical officers from the very beginning.

[Bristlecone]

9. Freedumb! More of these unvaccinated pockets to come around the country

[Merlot]

10. A 50% discount for customers who throw away their mask - great business plan!

Mask cost: .50 IF i were there would take advantage of that offer on a daily basis.