Cooper Avoids Mask Mandate, Chooses Vaccination Pressure Regime Instead

N.C. Gov. Roy Cooper gives an update on the state's response to COVID-19 during an afternoon news conference at the State of North Carolina's Emergency Operations Center in Raleigh Tuesday, March 31, 2020.

RALEIGH – Governor Roy Cooper had just recently announced an end to the remaining mask mandates, belatedly and reluctantly (finally!) removing nearly all statewide COVID-era restrictions; then the political winds changed, mask mania returned and vaccination campaigns were supercharged.

Subsequently, Cooper called a press conference to get back in line with his political mentors in the Biden administration. He didn’t bring back the mask mandate, but he did jump head first into the vaccination intimidation.

From Carolina Journal:

“Gov. Roy Cooper announced on Thursday, July 29, that, although statewide mask mandates will still expire July 30 according to recent guidance, his administration is launching vaccination verification requirements for Cabinet agencies and a general campaign to pressure other government entities and private businesses toward similar vaccination requirements.

“This virus is now much more contagious and spreading fast, and it will find you if you’re not vaccinated,” Cooper stated to lead off his latest COVID-19 media briefing. Later asked if he would go as far as calling the unvaccinated “irresponsible,” he replied, “Yes, I would.”

Announced hastily after suddenly changing currents on masks and vaccination among federal health authorities and the Biden administration, many North Carolinians wondered if Thursday’s press conference would mark a quick return of recently eliminated mask mandates. That reversal did not come, as Cooper and Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mandy Cohen said, “People know what to do,” when it comes to masks.

What Cooper did bring is an aggressive push for vaccination campaigns and an aggressive tone for those who have not taken the vaccine. Of the unvaccinated, the governor and secretary announced new strongly worded guidance, stopping short of a mandate, that says the unvaccinated should mask in all indoor public settings, practice social distancing of at least six feet, should not gather with other unvaccinated people, and that they should not travel at all.

The stepped-up push for vaccination most notably includes new vaccination verification requirements for all Cabinet agency employees. Effective Sept. 1, the new executive order will require said employees to verify their vaccination status. Further, the unvaccinated employees will be required to get tested for COVID-19 at least once a week while also being required to wear a mask at all times on the job.

“If they refuse to do that, there will be some consequences,” threatened Cooper. […]”

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