Redding religious school leader slams masks despite outbreak
SAN FRANCISCO >> Health officials in the California county with the highest rate of new coronavirus infections on Wednesday criticized an evangelical church leader who mocked face masks as “worthless” in a social media video, calling her comments infuriating misinformation that people should ignore.
The criticism was directed at Beni Johnson, a high-ranking official at the Bethel Church in Redding, a city at the epicenter of a county-wide spike in coronavirus cases. A college affiliated with the church has seen hundreds of cases that have helped drive a spike in the county.
“I would really encourage people not to pay attention to that misinformation,” county health officer Karen Ramstrom said during an online briefing Wednesday. “There is only growing evidence around the benefits of face coverings and mask use to mitigate the spread of this virus.”
Shasta County officials say 274 recent cases in the county were tied to the Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry. That number includes 137 cases reported last week. Overall, the county has reported more than 700 cases in the past two weeks, bringing the total since March to 1,623, officials said Wednesday.
Ramstrom said the outbreak at the school is similar to those at colleges around the country and appeared to stem from students socializing and living in close quarters in off- campus housing. She said the school had implemented numerous measures to help curb the spread of infection, but Johnson’s comments were counter productive.
In a now- deleted Instagram video, Johnson says she was visiting “a cute little town over on the coast” and standing in line to buy some food without wearing a mask.
“There is way too much security in a freaking mask that doesn’t even work,” Johnson says in the video.
She said people in the line moved away from her and when she got to the counter to order, she was told she had to wear a mask, even though she had pulled her sweatshirt over her mouth.
“If you’ll do scientific research these masks are worthless,” she said, adding that she had planned to shop in the town. “But now we won’t be shopping and giving them any money because you have to wear a stupid freaking mask that doesn’t work.”
Medical experts agree that wearing masks, avoiding large gatherings, practicing social distancing and thorough handwashing are effective at preventing the spread of coronavirus, said Dean Germano, chief executive officer for Shasta Community Health Center, during the briefing.