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SEPTEMBER 3, 2021
AIKEN-AUGUSTA’S MOST SALUBRIOUS NEWSPAPER • FOUNDED IN 2006
AUGUSTARX.COM
THE CORONAVIRUS/MILK CRATE CHALLENGE
CONNECTION Have you seen the milk crate challenge that has been sweeping social media? The idea is to climb up a tall stack of milk crates and then back down again without falling. Tik-Tok and other platforms are full of videos of disastrous falls (see below) experienced by dim-witted daredevils attempting this pointless challenge. These people all thought they could make it, only to take nasty falls. In those falls lies the coronavirus/milk crate challenge connection:
preliminary confidence followed by a terrible crash. Milk crate challenge victims can hopefully dust themselves off — or only have to wear a cast for a month or so — and learn from their mistake. But there are growing numbers of news reports telling the sad tales of people who refused to wear masks, dismissed the value of the vaccine, and in some cases denied the reality of the virus itself who are now dead from it. Some were defiant to the end while others regretted
their previous stand but sadly accepted that their epiphany came too late. These people were retired grandparents, ordinary hard-working people in their 30s, and even a number of prominent anti-vaccine and anti-mask activists. One was Marc Bernier, a Florida radio host who criticized the COVID-19 vaccine and referred to himself as “Mr. Anti-Vax.” He died this past Saturday night at age 65, three weeks after becoming infected with the virus. Another was Caleb Wallace, a prominent anti-mask campaigner in Texas who also died of COVID this past Saturday at age 30, leaving behind his wife and three young daughters. She told the local newspaper that although her husband refused to get the vaccine, he did take megadoses of Vitamin C, zinc, aspirin, and ivermectin, the deworming treatment used for livestock. “Show me the science that masks work,” he posted on the San Angelo (Texas) Freedom
IF MASKS DON’T WORK...
...then why do we teach our children to cover their mouth when they cough or sneeze? Why not just sneeze free and let ’er rip across the room, any room? Why do people sneeze into a handkerchief if one is available? Why have our doctors — yes, even the doctors of people who campaign against masks — why have they routinely worn masks in clinical and surgical settings (the very settings where germ control is particularly vital) for more than a century? How would an anti-masker feel if his or her doctor performed a procedure without wearing a mask? Masks aren’t perfect, but as a scientific fact, they do offer protection. +
Defender’s Facebook page late last year. Well Caleb, unfortunately it looks like not wearing masks doesn’t work either. Our hearts go out to the families of these COVID
victims. Would their loved ones be alive today if they had followed public health recommendations like masking and getting vaccinated? Not necessarily. But probably. +
Friends who wear together, stay together! IRG SCRUBS, EXCLUSIVELY AT SCRUBS OF EVANS
• WWW.SCRUBSOFEVANS.COM • • (706) 364.1163 • • 4158 WASHINGTON RD • (ACROSS FROM CLUB CAR)