Gadon won’t wear mask outdoors, says gov’t overreacted to COVID-19 paranoia

MANILA, Philippines — Lawyer Larry Gadon once again became a trending topic on social media over the weekend after he was spotted not properly wearing his face mask in public. He simply taped the mask on his face shield.

Asked to explain his action, Gadon said he does not believe that wearing face masks can prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), even saying that the government only “overreacted” to the pandemic’s “paranoia.”

“I don’t believe in mask outdoors, face shield is okay. Masks may be good for small enclosed places like elevators or small conference rooms,” Gadon said in a statement.

“In my case, the mask is only for a show because stores will not allow entry if you don’t have mask,” he added.

“If mask is really effective, how come there are more than 100,000 people afflicted with COVID? And more than 2,000 dead victims?”

The mandatory wearing of face masks in public was among the health protocols the government imposed to curtail the further spread of the respiratory disease, which has already infected over 160,000 nationwide.

Gadon said “COVID fear” was only created by “paranoia.”

“COVID is curable at the onset when symptoms are felt. One should only take the traditional Chinese medicine,” he said, without elaborating.

“The government has overreacted to the COVID paranoia.”

He added: “I don’t believe in masks.”

The Department of Health, as well as the World Health Organization, advised the use of face masks to prevent contracting the new coronavirus which can be transmitted through close contact with infected people via mouth and nose secretions such as saliva and respiratory secretions or secretion droplets.

But the lawyer insisted that face masks “does not help all the time,” even saying that he has not contracted the viral illness despite going to different hospitals with COVID-19 patients.

“I went around to almost 20 COVID hospitals and COVID centers last April May to donate PPEs (personal protective equipment),  gloves, masks, food snacks, vitamins to medical frontliners. Sometimes I had to remove my mask because some people requests for selfies, nagka-COVID ba ako?

“Mask is created by fear and paranoia. But it does not help all the time.”

/MUF