From the Argus Leader, Republican State Senator Helene Duhamel has apparently taken ill with COVID:
Sen. Helene Duhamel, R-Rapid City, alerted Senate majority leadership Wednesday that she had fallen ill and tested positive with coronavirus since returning home from the capitol where she and other legislators met the day prior.
Please keep her in your thoughts while she’s recuperating.
With that said, I do note that in the Argus article and elsewhere, there are those who are breathlessly pointing to this photo as if some cardinal sin was committed because they removed masks for a picture.
Frankly, we don’t have any idea where the Senator picked it up, so this is kind of dumb. Masks are not a magic force-field by themselves, especially when people are handling pens, credit cards, door handles, railings, etcetera, that aren’t disinfected between people touching them.
Plus, I know of several in the picture who have already had it. So she didn’t pick it up from them.
Yes, it is courteous and considerate to mask when possible, especially when a business or location requests it of their patrons. And if you’re symptomatic, don’t go out. But if you don’t know someone’s medical situation, stop throwing stones. A little courtesy on both sides goes a long way.
And maybe we’ll be able to speak to one another when this is all done.
Did she say if she wore a mask at all? It’s extremely unlikely she got it Monday night/Tuesday and already felt sick and tested positive on Wednesday. The greater concern, other than her health, is who she could have spread it to in that 24 hour period while in Pierre. Hope she and everyone are okay.
Once again, masks are to prevent spread. We never know when we’ll start getting symptoms so masking is important. Obviously these people do not understand that or are willfully ignorant.
The concern isn’t whether she got it from someone in the picture. She clearly already had it if she received her positive results the next day. The question is who did she expose? She had it and didn’t know- the exact reason you should wear a mask.
“Masks are not a magic force-field by themselves”. No shit. That’s why you are supposed to practice social distancing and avoid large gatherings, which of course, the governor and most Republicans refuse to do. She’s positive, which means she exposed everyone else at the gathering. Way to go, shaking my damn head.
I hear the rattling. There must be quite a lot of room in there.
she wore a mask most of the time in Pierre.
The last commentator apparently doesn’t understand even the CDC guidelines. This was a very brief photo shot gathering.
The senator had a mask on while at the budget address and in the caucus room
Facts are not necessary for anonymous critics. I noticed that my Senator wore a mask when I saw her except for the photo.
Thank you Senator for reminding us that facts are important.
Legislators, among many many other occupations, are essential. It means they put themselves out there for the people. It doesn’t matter if she took a picture without her mask or took her mask down for a drink of water, someone would try to shame her for it. That’s the biggest hurdle to this pandemic, shaming others and acting like one is superior. Have some civility.
Thank you Senator Duhamel for your service and hope you have a speedy recovery.
Well said.
I too, pray for my Senator’s speedy recovery.