Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo has once again voiced his opposition to mask mandates, labeling them as “terrible policies” and urging people not to comply. As various entities across the United States reintroduce mask mandates amid concerns of a COVID resurgence, Ladapo has been a vocal critic of these measures, asserting that they have been proven ineffective.
In a recent statement on social media platform X, Ladapo criticized the decision to reimpose mask policies and restart lockdowns, suggesting that such actions defy common sense. He questioned the rationale behind enforcing policies that have yielded questionable results, advocating for non-participation as a means to challenge these measures.
What do you call re-imposing mask policies that have been proven ineffective or restarting lockdowns that are known to cause harm?
You don’t call it sanity.
These terrible policies only work with your cooperation. How about refusing to participate…
— Joseph A. Ladapo, MD, PhD (@FLSurgeonGen) August 24, 2023
Even in the absence of reported COVID cases on campus, Morris Brown College in Atlanta decided to reintroduce a mask mandate, mirroring the caution exercised by Lionsgate film studio in California. Lionsgate, however, eventually lifted the mandate, citing the successful containment of the virus spread. These actions come as legacy media outlets, like CNN, feature articles advocating for the return of masks, prompting discussions among experts about the necessity of such measures.
Ladapo’s stance against mask mandates dates back to March 2022 when he labeled the arguments supporting them as falsehoods that needed to be dispelled. He has also opposed vaccine mandates and played a role in collaborating with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to discourage COVID vaccinations for healthy children. A study released by Ladapo had suggested potential health risks associated with the vaccine, particularly among young men. Building on this sentiment, DeSantis signed a groundbreaking bill in May that prohibited both mask mandates and vaccine mandates throughout Florida. The legislation extended these protections from kindergarten through college, championing the notion of personal freedom and solidifying the state’s stance against coercive measures.
Describing the bill as an embodiment of the commitment to individual liberty, DeSantis celebrated its enactment and hailed it as a culmination of years of efforts to safeguard personal freedoms. This legislative move mirrored the Florida leadership’s unwavering belief in empowering citizens to make their own informed choices in the face of public health challenges.
“How can they force you to take it? Whether it is a business or government?
That is wrong and it won’t be allowed in the State of Florida.”
Governor DeSantis signs law to make all the 2021 Medical Freedom protections permanent, banning forced masking and Covid jab mandates. pic.twitter.com/Y1WyUPPsAC
— Chris Nelson 🇺🇸 🏝 (@ReOpenChris) May 11, 2023
