Americans Losing Trust in Public Health

This story by @davidzweig perfectly captures why Americans have lost trust in public health. Public health officials view the majority of Americans as the enemy or, at least, an intractable problem to be solved rather than fellow citizens to serve.
1/7https://t.co/qAZZgfWysa

— Jay Bhattacharya (@DrJBhattacharya) March 7, 2023

Not being particularly religious themselves, many top public health officials view religious activity as an optional activity, definitely not essential. In California, the restrictions were so clearly unconstitutional the US Sup Ct slapped them down.
2/7https://t.co/MqcaQjREdL

— Jay Bhattacharya (@DrJBhattacharya) March 7, 2023

Compare this with Gov. @RonDeSantisFL of Florida, who famously declared church "essential" in accordance with the US Constitution and 1st Amendment.
3/7https://t.co/J07TBbFGF6

— Jay Bhattacharya (@DrJBhattacharya) March 7, 2023

From @davidzweig's story from Santa Clara, California:
"Extensive legal documents reveal a county health dept, that went to extraordinary, and potentially unlawful, lengths to enforce its decrees. These efforts include levying more than $2 million in fines [vs. the church]"
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— Jay Bhattacharya (@DrJBhattacharya) March 7, 2023

The county paid spies hundreds of dollars an hour to surveil the church: "breathtaking in scope and reminiscent of totalitarian regimes, rather than an American county health department"
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— Jay Bhattacharya (@DrJBhattacharya) March 7, 2023

"The spy operation included stakeouts, forced in-person monitoring of prayer groups and other intimate activities, and tracking the cellular mobility data of churchgoers."
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— Jay Bhattacharya (@DrJBhattacharya) March 7, 2023

The lawsuits and fines are still, three years later, still ongoing.

During the pandemic, public health declared war on the people it is supposed to serve. The county should apologize to the church and stop its persecution.
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— Jay Bhattacharya (@DrJBhattacharya) March 7, 2023