The House of Representatives in North Dakota passed a bill on Monday to make mask mandates illegal in the future, reports Grand Forks Herald.
North Dakota House votes to make mask mandates illegal
Rep. Jeff Hoverson who sponsored the bill called the mask mandate diabolical silliness. He added that “our state is not a prison camp,” the Herald reported. The bill comes three months after North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum (R) imposed a mask mandate across the state.
Moreover, the legislation summarizes that “A state or local elected official, the state, or a political subdivision of the state may not mandate an individual in this state use a face mask, face shield, or other face covering.”
It also rules out using a face mask, shield, or covering a condition for entry, education, employment, or services. The bill to make mask mandates illegal also notes that “If a state or local elected official, the state, or a political subdivision of the state recommends an individual in this state use a face mask, shield, or covering, the official or entity shall provide notice the recommendation is not mandatory.”
Mask wearing is essential to prevent Covid-19
Reportedly, there was a decline in the number of COVID-19 cases after Burgum’s mask mandate. According to the Herald, many GOP supporters of the state bill do not believe that mask-wearing prevents the spread of COVID-19. Whereas, several health experts, including the top infectious diseases expert, Anthony Fauci, have stated that mask-wearing is necessary to control the coronavirus pandemic.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), wearing a cloth mask over a medical mask can decrease the spread of COVID-19. Whereas, data from the CDC showed North Dakota confirmed over 94,000 coronavirus cases and 1,438 deaths since the pandemic started.
Bill to make mask mandates illegal passed 50-44
The Grand Forks Herald reported that the bill passed 50-44 and will now proceed to the state Senate.
Several states, including Iowa, Montana, and Mississippi have started lifting mask mandates. Although Joe Biden made efforts to urge a nation-wide mask mandate which could continue throughout the next year.
