FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Monday, July 6, 2020
CONTACT: Liz Doherty
Dan Forest: “Masks Do Not Work”
At a campaign event over the weekend, Dan Forest went on a tirade during which he claimed “masks do not work.”
According to reports, Forest said:
“There have been multiple comprehensive studies at the deepest level held to scientific standards in controlled environments that have all said for decades, masks do not work with viruses. That’s why we’ve never used a mask for a coronavirus before, ever.”
At the event, Forest also downplayed the pressure the outbreak has placed on North Carolina hospitals, “The hospitals are fine; they’re not out of beds, they’re still doing elective surgeries and filling up their ICUs, making money again, and they’re able to prepare for the worst if something did change.”
Liz Doherty, spokesperson for Cooper for North Carolina, said, “With every lie he spews about COVID, Dan Forest shows North Carolinians he cares more about his campaign than their health and safety. This rhetoric is not just disappointing–it is dangerous. North Carolinians deserve more.”
Spreading lies about COVID and downplaying its severity constitutes the Forest campaign’s playbook. Here are just a few examples:
- In April, Forest claimed more people have died from the flu than from COVID-19. Politifact gave this claim a “False” rating.
- On May 1st, Forest claimed Governor Cooper had “no moral, ethical or rational justification” for extending the state’s Stay At Home order.
- On May 12th, Forest claimed “there is absolutely no proof” that a lockdown actually prevents COVID-19 deaths.
- On May 26th, Forest claimed “the curve has always been flat in our state.”
- On June 5th, Forest claimed “other states opened bars, gyms, and other businesses weeks ago with no negative impact on public health.”
- On June 29th, in a press conference, Forest falsely claimed that there haven’t been serious COVID outbreaks in K-12 schools.
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