UTICA, N.Y. (WSYR) — Oneida County Govt Anthony Picente says he helps and can implement the state requirement that masks be worn in public locations until the person enterprise or venue checks for vaccine proof upon entry. The county was already mandating masks earlier than the brand new statewide steerage, and Picente stated he’s pissed off that public well being selections have gotten political fodder.
The more-restrictive state rule outranks Picente’s personal plan to require masks in public locations, however he plans to implement it as he would his personal. The stance from the Republican county govt is opposite to that of his Republican counterparts in different counties. Leaders Rensselaer, Saratoga, Dutchess, Madison, Cortland, Ontario, Orange, Niagara, and Livingston Counties have all publicly stated they gained’t implement the state order due to political disagreements.
Picente anticipated complaints, however he and his staff have been bombarded by vitriolic hostility. Some have been so dangerous, he stated, “I can’t repeat them on the air.”
When pushed once more, he stated he’s been referred to as a communist, been informed masks or vaccines don’t work, and that “No person’s dying. It’s all made up.”
Picente corrects the claims: masks and vaccines do work and the deaths are actual. “I may inform you ten folks that I do know who died,” Picente stated, “that have been unvaccinated, that shouldn’t have died. That’s simply ten I can consider off the highest of my head, that I do know personally. I do know folks within the hospital, not vaccinated, personally. But the message isn’t getting by means of.”
Picente has his personal message that he put into phrases over the weekend and shared on Facebook.
When requested about different members of his personal celebration defying well being measures, Picente stated, “I’ve been a Republican my whole skilled life. The Republican Social gathering is the car during which I’ve gotten elected 4 occasions and I’m happy with it. However issues have modified. It’s not my grasp. It doesn’t decide how I govern.”
He reminds his group that defending well being and security is the accountability of the county, no matter any celebration’s political place. Separating public well being selections from scoring political factors is behind his intention plans to implement the state rule as he would his personal.
“I’m not going to inform folks we’re not going to implement,” Picente stated. “Then I’m telling folks, ‘Do no matter you need.’ You already know what? I’ve a accountability. They [masks] do make a distinction. They’re not 100%, folks will say that. Similar because the vaccine isn’t. Nevertheless it’s so much higher than nothing.”
