The chief epidemiologist of Allegheny County testified on Wednesday that restaurants operating at full capacity and without mask requirements during the covid-19 pandemic “absolutely” pose a risk to the community.
LuAnn Brink, who also serves as deputy director of the province’s health department, was the first witness called during a hearing on the closure of the Crack’d Egg. The restaurant claims that the order to close was not valid.
The Brentwood restaurant was closed by the health department on August 11 after provincial inspectors found that employees and customers were not wearing masks, as required by the governor’s mitigation orders for the government. However, owner Kimberly Waigand ignored the closure notice and continued to work. She boasts on social media that she fights tyranny and speaks in September during a protest in Harrisburg.
In an opening statement, her lawyer, James Cooney, said there was no evidence that the governor’s decisive mitigation orders were effective and that there was no legal authority for them.
The trial before Common Pleas judge John McVay is expected to continue until Friday. It is resumed on Thursday morning with dr. Debra Bogen, director of the department of health in Allegheny County, who takes the stand.
Brink, who testified most of the day, said that although there was confusion about the effectiveness of masks early in the pandemic, it has since been shown to be effective.
“For me, it makes biological sense,” she said.
Brink noted that masks have been proven effective for hundreds of years in capturing droplets that transmit diseases. Public health officials have recommended simple cloth masks to prevent the wearer from spreading the disease.
“There is a wealth of literature that speaks to the reproduction rate of the virus,” she said. “Studies have shown that transmission in masks decreased by seven times.”
Brink said she is not aware of any dispute in the epidemiological community.
“If you wear a mask, you control the number of viral particles you expel,” she said. ‘The number is less. The drops are less. The viral particles are less if you have a mask over your face. ‘
“Is it then better to wear a mask to prevent the virus than to wear it?” asks provincial attorney Michael Parker.
“Absolutely,” Brink replied.
She said restaurants that operate at full capacity and without mask requirements pose a risk to the community.
As for the social distance requirements, Brink said local officials’ observations locally have shown that closure and physical distance help keep the effects low in the spring.
But when Pennsylvania lifted its stay-at-home orders, reopening pubs and restaurants, Brink said a case was through the roof. It has increased tenfold. It made us scurry. ”
Since the start of the pandemic, Brink said there have been 11 “outbreaks” that have been traced back to restaurants in Allegheny County. According to her, there were eight in June. The others took place in October and November.
Brink did not identify the restaurants in her testimony, but confirmed that Crack’d Egg was not among them.
Parker followed up by asking, “If a business operates illegally, would you expect people to admit that they go to that business?”
Brind replies, ‘I would not expect that. Many people depend on our investigators. ”
There are fewer outbreaks from other businesses – such as large box stores with high ceilings – because customers are ‘going on’ there all the time, ‘Brink said.
“You’re not in a static position for a long time,” she said. “Sitting close to someone carries a risk of transmission.”
Brink nevertheless said that she does not advocate shutting everything down. “It’s a miserable situation for everyone,” she said.
Amanda Mator, operations manager of the health department’s food safety program, said during the trial that the Crack’d Egg would be allowed to reopen if the restaurant submitted a covid-19 prevention plan, showing how it complied with the government authority’s mitigation orders would comply. .
“What jurisdiction do you have to claim a plan for the prevention of any people?” Ask Cooney.
“I do not know,” she replied.
Then Mator continues, referring to Article 3, Food Safety Rules and Regulations for Allegheny County. According to section 3, a restaurant may not operate without a provincial health permit.
“Only persons who comply with all applicable departmental rules and regulations, state and federal laws are entitled to receive and retain such a permit,” it said.
During the pending case against the Crack’d Egg, Mator said she felt threatened when her name and home address were posted on social media in connection with the enforcement action.
“The report asked if anyone would like to show up at my front porch,” Mator said.
She reported the incident to the FBI and filed a police report.
Paula Reed Ward is a staff writer for Tribune-Review. You can contact Paula by email at [email protected] or via Twitter .
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