Surprise, surprise, mask mandates have never been about the virus. In a recent proposal by Oregon health officials, the state is currently seeking to turn their temporary mask mandates permanent. Like the radical left California, companies and residents would just start leaving. That’s what happens when Democrats refuse to give up any political power and ‘ignore the science.’
Oregon’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration recently announced its plans to make ‘COVID-19 workplace rules’ a permanent fixture. The temporary rules, which were adopted on November 6, 2020, are set to expire on May 4, and OSHA notes that they intend to repeal the rule until the pandemic “fades away.” Whatever that means.
“We have not yet defeated this disease and we clearly will not have done so by the time the temporary rule expires. As a result, it is critically important that we carry forward measures that we know are effective at combating the spread of this disease and reducing risks in the workplace,” said Oregon OSHA Administrator Michael Wood.
The summarized guidelines of the proposed legislation claim that a permanent rule would protect workers throughout the state, as well as address the current public health emergency “until necessary.” OSHA adds that it is necessary to extend these provisions as the COVID-19 public emergency remains a significant concern in Oregon.
“If Oregon OSHA does not pursue permanent rulemaking for this continuing pandemic, workers will be less than fully protected and subject to the uncertainties of public health guidance rather than the relative clarity of a rule designed specifically to address Oregon workplaces. It is expected that this rule will be repealed once it is no longer necessary to address the COVID-19 pandemic,” the rule summary states.
The permanent fixtures would include physical distancing in the workplace, facial covering requirements, cleaning and sanitation, COVID-19 testing for workers, and infection control training. They would also require employers to continue displaying safety posters and isolate certain employees who may have been “potentially exposed or infected.”
OSHA included ‘industry-specific’ and ‘activity-specific’ requirements for restaurants, bars, brewpubs, and public tasting rooms, such as breweries, wineries, and distilleries. They also budgeted in the costs for cloth face coverings and face shields for jails, prisons, and other custodial institutions. Instead of getting kids back to school and businesses opened at full capacity, Oregon just wants to give more face masks to prisoners. Unbelievable.
Small businesses with more than 10 employees will be forced to certify with the state that their ventilation systems are operating and arrange workplace vaccinations with public health agencies. Management will not be able to penalize any employees who decide to quarantine and health care organizations will be forced to provide workers who they believe to be exposed to COVID-19 with respirators. This can’t be real…
In recent polls by DHM Research, Oregonians have held an incredible negative view of Gov. Kate Brown over the strict policies she enforced during the outbreak of COVID-19. 57% polled that they had a “somewhat negative” or “very negative” impression of Brown, 26% said they had a “somewhat positive” impression of her, and only 11% had polled a “very positive” impression of the governor. 45% also polled that they believed the state to be headed in the ‘wrong direction,’ adding that Gov. Brown has been extremely polarizing throughout the pandemic.
Hundreds of Oregonians rallied last summer against Brown’s mask mandates in nearly all venues indoors and outdoors, as well as protesting the orders right In front of the Oregon State Capital. There was even a “Recall Kate Brown” tent. Protesters were not fighting the science of wearing face masks, but rather being stripped of the choice about wearing one.
“I understand the elderly, my wife falls in the category of being high risk, so that’s one reason I wear a mask quite often, but I think this whole virus, COVID-19, has been blown totally out of proportion for political reasons throughout the nation. Everything I can see it is really no worse than the flu every year,” said one protester.
First, Oregon allowed Antifa and the Black Lives Matter movement to take over Portland, and now the state is looking at invoking permanent mask mandates? Talk about a radical left cling to power.
