Anti-mask rally called 'foolish'

SANDUSKY — The anti-mask protesters who together went inside a local grocery store on Tuesday don't appear interested in protecting others from becoming sick. "The public health order requiring face masks was put into place to protect Ohioans from a disease that has killed more than 4,000 of our fellow Ohioans, and left many others on a difficult road to to recovery," said Melanie Amato, a spokeswoman for the state health department. "Mask wearing is based on research that indicates that their use can mitigate the spread of COVID-19," Amato said. "Mask wearing, along with social distancing and practicing good hand hygiene and cleaning are the best ways we have to fight the spread of this deadly disease." The state health department declined to respond to questions about how a similar incident could be prevented in the future. Erie County health commissioner Peter Schade called the demonstration against wearing masks stupid, selfish and irresponsible. But Schade said he doesn't see a practical enforcement action the health department can take in response. On Tuesday, anti-mask demonstrators visited the Kroger supermarket on Perkins Avenue, entering the store as a group without masks and buying groceries before dispersing. Schade said he was told there were a total of 18 people, 16 adults and two children. He said Kroger reported they bought groceries and left within 20 to 30 minutes. The health commissioner said the protestors apparently don't care they may have made other people sick from a sometimes-fatal disease. "Stuff like this Kroger thing, that doesn't help," Schade said. "It's only going to hurt our numbers if that leads to more people coming down symptomatically sick." "They want people to have their freedoms, but they are the ones who will be taking it away because of their selfish actions," Schade said. "They are willing to get you sick." Schade said he doesn't see any enforcement action he could take. "If I had an exact list of people who were involved and could prove certain people did certain things, I would take that information to the prosecutor's office," Schade said. "I don't have that." A corporate spokeswoman for Kroger did not respond to requests for comment.