Tucker Carlson slammed the federal government over its “honesty” about the supply of N95 medical masks in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
The Fox News host called out federal officials during “Tucker Carlson Tonight” on Monday for downplaying the need for healthy Americans to use the masks at the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak while the real problem was that there was a shortage of supplies.
(Source: Fox News)
“In any crisis, trust is critical…the government can’t coordinate a national response if the public doesn’t believe what it says and doesn’t believe the government is looking out for its best interest,” Carlson said in his monologue.
“That’s why honesty is essential at times like this. When the government lies, people know,” he added.
“From the beginning of the Chinese coronavirus epidemic, mask shortages have been a major problem. Some people hoarded hundreds of thousands of them and manufacturers couldn’t keep up,” the Fox News host said.
Carlson cited examples to back his argument, saying the government told “dumb lies” rather than be up front and honest, explaining the shortage of masks and the need to make sure health care workers and those at risk had priority in getting them.
He pointed out a tweet from Surgeon General Jerome Adams last month telling people to stop buying masks because they’re “NOT effective in preventing the general public from catching” the coronavirus.
Seriously people- STOP BUYING MASKS!
They are NOT effective in preventing general public from catching #Coronavirus, but if healthcare providers can’t get them to care for sick patients, it puts them and our communities at risk!
https://t.co/UxZRwxxKL9— U.S. Surgeon General (@Surgeon_General) February 29, 2020
Carlson went on to read a CNN report on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that echoed the remarks by Adams.
“The CDC says that healthy people in the U.S. should not wear them because they won’t protect them from the novel coronavirus. In fact, facemasks might actually increase your risk for infection if they aren’t worn properly, but medical workers who treat patients … do need them,” he read.
Carlson then pointed to a story in Time magazine this month with a headline declaring: “Health experts are telling healthy people not to wear face masks for coronavirus. So why are so many doing it?”
“The article suggested believing in masks [is] some kind of superstition like not walking under ladders or being afraid of black cats,” he said. “It’s insulting. It’s ridiculous.”
President Trump, whose administration contends that masks currently aren’t necessary for most people, indicated that his officials may “take a look” at the recommendation made by his former Food and Drug Administration head, Dr. Scott Gottlieb, about Americans wearing the masks in public to prevent the spread of the pandemic.
“I saw his suggestion on that. We will take a look at it,” Trump said during his daily news briefing at the White House Monday, adding that if the decision is made to recommend it, it would be for “a period of time.”
“We want our country back,” he said from the Rose Garden. “We are not going to be wearing masks forever, but it could be for a short period of time after we get back into gear. I could see something like that happening for a period of time.”
“I would hope it would be a very limited period of time,” he added.
During his Fox News show Monday, Carlson questioned the contention that the masks are not effective in protecting average Americans and only work for those in health care.
“They’re telling you masks don’t work unless you work at a hospital? How does that work? Does mask effectiveness change based on what job you do? They’re only useful if you’re already sick? What?” he asked.
“Of course masks work. Everyone knows that. Dozens of research papers have proved it,” Carlson asserted.
“So look, we understand there’s a shortage of masks,” he concluded. “We understand only certain people should get them because it’s a triage moment, we get it. But stop lying to us because it makes us cynical, it divides the country. Tell the truth, We can handle it.”
DONATE TO BIZPAC REVIEW
Please help us! If you are fed up with letting radical big tech execs, phony fact-checkers, tyrannical liberals and a lying mainstream media have unprecedented power over your news please consider making a donation to BPR to help us fight them. Now is the time. Truth has never been more critical!
[email protected]
Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.
- ‘Do not lose your life over a f-ing car!’ Brazen thieves tell homeowners to stay inside as they swipe Corvette - April 18, 2024
- Sworn in jurist in Trump hush money trial already dismissed as selection becomes growing nightmare - April 18, 2024
- INSIDER: ‘Speaks volumes!’ Biden ignored when he visits Pennsylvania gas station, stark contrast from Trump - April 18, 2024
Comment
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.
BPR INSIDER COMMENTS
Scroll down for non-member comments or join our insider conversations by becoming a member. We'd love to have you!
