Community activist objects to mask mandate during flu surge

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(The Center Square) –  A community activist is not happy with Banner Health mandating masks at all its facilities in Arizona during a flu surge.

The mandate also applies to Banner Health's facilities in California, Colorado, Nebraska, Nevada and Wyoming.

Banner Health, which is based in Phoenix, did not respond to The Center Square's request for comments. However, the nonprofit health care system did state in a press release that the mandate is “due to a significant surge in seasonal influenza” and is meant to protect patients.

“This measure is necessary because older patients and those with immunodeficiencies are at heightened risk, and these extra precautions will help safeguard our most vulnerable populations,” said Dr. Marjorie Bessel, Banner Health chief clinical officer. “Our top priority is to protect our patients, staff, and the communities we serve by reducing the spread of the virus.”

Arizona activist Lisa Everett first voiced her frustration in an emailed newsletter. She said the problem is that masks are mandatory.

‘It should be a choice,” Everett told The Center Square. “If I’m concerned about my health, I can wear a mask, but I don’t think someone like myself, who is asthmatic, should be required to wear a mask and have breathing problems because I need to go to the doctor for something else.”

Everett added that “the jury is still out” on whether masks work.

“Even the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has stated the simple little masks that they hand out at any doctor’s office desk do not really offer much protection,” Everett said.

Everett recommended people opposed to mask mandates make their voices heard.

Be polite about it, she said, but state your opposition.

“Of course, you’re going to have to comply to be seen, and if you do, please don’t re-wear a mask because that is just breathing in germs from before, and that is going to create health problems,” said Everett. “It’s very sad when I see people shove their mask in their purse or their pocket or whatever and then reuse it over and over again. That’s just not sanitary and safe.”

Banner Health’s mask mandate is in effect until further notice.

“The flu kills tens of thousands of people each year,” Dr. Bessel said in the Banner Health press release. “Our masking plan will help us protect everyone, especially high-risk groups including those 65 and older, children 2 and under, pregnant women, and people with chronic health conditions such as asthma, diabetes, and heart disease.”