Face masks have been a divisive topic over the past few weeks.
Some attention-seekers in Melbourne are hitting the headlines as they argue with police and businesses over their right not to wear one in public.
One post doing the rounds on social media shows an anti-masker, aptly-named ‘Karen from Bunnings’, confronting staff about the mandatory use of face coverings before sharing a video of her burning face masks in a fire pit.
The flood of media coverage on anti-maskers like ‘Karen from Bunnings’ again begs the question: why make stupid people famous?
This is a fair question, especially when the overwhelming majority do the right thing. We are, of course, a free country and people have the right to express their opinion, but it is concerning how dangerous the spread of misinformation can be.
We spoke to Hunter General Practitioners Association Secretary, Dr Lee Fong, and a spokesperson from NSW Health this week to share some information about when, where, and why you should wear a face mask. You’ll find that story on page 9.
Other stories include Marine Rescue Newcastle’s potential new home in Stockton; an op shop volunteer’s vision of giving back; and the Newcastle Art Gallery’s plans to expand.
