Yahoo Finance Oregon doctor calls Covid ‘common cold’ and reveals none of his staff wear face masks in clinic
An Oregon doctor called Covid-19 a “common cold” and revealed that his staff members have not worn face masks throughout the coronavirus pandemic.
Dr Steven LaTulippe made the comments while speaking at a “Stop the Steal” rally in Salem, Oregon, last month, which was in support of President Donald Trump’s false claims that there was widespread fraud in 3 November’s election, according to NBC News.
“I want to expose what I call corona mania,” Dr LaTulippe told the rally’s crowd in a video that was shared to YouTube by the Multnomah County Republicans.
“I want you to know that I never shut down during the entire Covid season ... I hate to tell you this, I might scare you, but I and my staff, none of us once wore a mask in my clinic,” he said as people at the rally cheered.
“And how many problems did we have in our clinic from that? Zero. Absolutely none,” the doctor claimed.
Dr LaTulippe, who owns a clinic close to Portland, was introduced to the rally as a doctor who was going to talk about the “myths of Covid,” according to NBC.
The doctor, who says he has treated at least 80 coronavirus patients, falsely claimed at the rally: “We have been utterly duped, and I want you to know that this is insanity and the purpose was only to shut down the American people.
“This is a threat to your freedom, a threat to our Constitution. I petition all of you, take off the mask of shame.”
He then falsely added: “It is a mask that is just designed to control you and to shut you down,” and called Covid-19 “a common cold virus”.
In a report last week, the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said that seven studies confirmed the “benefit of universal masking in community level analyses.”
The CDC added: “Each analysis demonstrated that, following directives from organisational and political leadership for universal masking, new infections fell significantly.”
While, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has estimated that the flu kills between 290,000 to 650,000 people worldwide each year. Covid-19 has already killed 1.496 million people in less than 12 months.
In an interview with NBC on Tuesday, Dr LaTulippe reiterated his beliefs about face masks, falsely claiming: “There's bad science behind it.”
“I have absolutely zero problems with infectivity, and I have completely successful treatments, so I ask, 'What is the problem?' Why would I be demonised if I know what I'm doing?” he said.
“I have a very rigid virus and flu-season protocol at my clinic, and it has worked very well for me for years,” Dr LaTulippe continued. “I've never had any of my staff or myself get sick.”
However, he did admit that he asks his patients who are experiencing Covid-19 symptoms to wear a face mask, and revealed that he disinfects the area around him before and after appointments.
Dr LaTulippe said that he is “interested in sound medical practice,” but explained that he spoke at the rally because “when science and medicine become perverted with corrupt politics, then I'm up for a fight.”
In June, Oregon governor Kate Brown ordered healthcare professionals in the state to wear face masks at all times while in health facilities.
The Oregon Medical Board did not comment on Dr LaTulippe, but released a statement to NBC on Wednesday, that said flouting of coronavirus measures could lead to action being taken.
“Unprofessional conduct includes, but is not limited to, conduct that does or might endanger the health or safety of the public,” the board said in a statement.
“This includes failure to comply with an Executive Order issued by the governor or failure to comply with state agency guidance applicable to the time and location where the licensee practices medicine,” it added.
Since the start of the pandemic, Oregon has recorded more than 78,206 coronavirus cases and at least 962 deaths.
According to Johns Hopkins University, there are now more than 13.9 million people who have tested positive for the coronavirus in the US. The death toll has reached 273,836.
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