From 314action.org
Bob Good Downplays the Severity of COVID-19
Good Has Consistently Flaunted Public Health Guidelines
Philadelphia — Last week, Bob Good, Republican candidate for Virginia’s fifth congressional district, downplayed the severity of the coronavirus crisis and displayed a fundamental misunderstanding of the measures needed to combat the pandemic.
At a forum in Charlottesville, Good claimed that COVID-19 is “similar to other viruses we’ve had in our history” and decried the public health recommendations instituted to protect Virginians from the pandemic. At one point, Good tried to liken the risks of going about one’s business during the pandemic to the risks of driving a car. “We drove here today, and we took a risk to drive here today,” Good said, claiming that overreacting and lowering the speed limit to just five miles an hour would be similar to the government’s response to COVID-19.
There were no masks being worn and no social distancing measures being followed, which has been a common theme during Bob Good’s campaign throughout the pandemic.
Throughout his campaign, Bob Good has failed to advocate for proper resources from federal and state governments to help front line health care workers combat the pandemic. Good has also refused to stand up for Virginians with pre-existing conditions, declining to make protecting the most vulnerable citizens a priority of his campaign.
“Despite the overwhelming evidence that COVID-19 is the worst public health crisis the United States has experienced in generations, Bob Good has downplayed the threat and doesn’t seem to understand why Virginians are concerned for their health and safety,” said Brooke Bainum, Communications Director of 314 Action. “The people of VA-05 cannot afford to be represented by someone who ignores the science and facts during a pandemic.”
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314 Action is a grassroots community of more than 2 million people working to elect scientists and doctors to public office at all levels and helping them get more involved in public discourse.