Charlotte County commissioners vote against mask mandate

Charlotte County commissioners on Tuesday voted 3-2 against a mask mandate.

The debate for a mask mandate was emotional. One doctor broke down, saying if you can prevent a death, why not do it?

“I have five people in the ICU on the vent waiting for plasma; there’s a backup, they can’t get it. I’m upset because they’re going to die. And I’m there watching them and there are people here debating about wearing a mask. So it’s really painful for me being in the hospital and people are debating masks. What does a mask for saving someone’s life? For goodness sake, what is a mask?” asked Dr. Ndubuisi Edeoga.

The debate against the mandate was more practical, centering on how the county would enforce it.

“How do you uniformly enforce a mandate with subjective standards? You can’t,” said Commissioner Joe Tiseo.

Claire Rey, who said her husband died of COVID-19, hoped the commissioners would mandate masks. Now, she hopes people will wear them anyway.

“I just think if we did, perhaps he’d still be here. Maybe he wouldn’t have gotten the virus. We don’t know where he got it and we don’t know who he gave it to,” Rey said. “I do think people have to be responsible, social distance, wear your mask, wash your hands.”

Rey said she fears more people will feel her pain because of Tuesday’s vote against a mandate.

The commissioners will consider a non-binding resolution encouraging people to wear masks in public at their July 28 meeting.

Their decision Tuesday comes nearly a week after Punta Gorda city leaders passed an emergency ordinance to require masks in indoor places around their city.

This is a developing story. Trust WINK News for updates.