Anti-Masker Founder of ReOpen Movement Tests Positive for Coronavirus

[Grokenstein]

https://www.newsweek.com/founder-reopen-movement-who-didnt-wear-mask-tests-positive-coronavirus-1513831

The co-founder of a movement to reopen Maryland at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic has tested positive for the virus after refusing to wear a face mask.

Tim Walters helped organize rallies with the group ReOpen Maryland, demanding that Maryland Governor Larry Hogan rescind his stay-at-home order in April. Earlier this week, Walters said he had tested positive for COVID-19 in a series of Facebook videos, some of which have since been deleted.

"I was diagnosed yesterday at the ER with COVID-19 and here I am months after not wearing a mask at rallies, churches and so on and so it's funny how capricious this thing is," Walters said in a video on Tuesday, according to The Capital Gazette, who first reported on the test result.

Walters, a Republican candidate in two failed bids for the Maryland House of Delegates, said that he first experienced a dry cough in March, before eventually developing vision problems, headaches and a fever. The 53-year-old said he also has diabetes, while admitting he does not always maintain healthy habits.

Walters suggested that those he has recently come into contact with should monitor their symptoms. However, he is refusing to cooperate with Maryland contact tracers by providing any personal information that could help them contain the virus.

"I will not share anybody's information with the government. I will not do it," Walters reportedly said.

In a video posted Friday, he said he was attempting to open his own church and blamed "Satan" for his contracting the virus, while insisting that COVID-19 had never been spread during the anti-lockdown rallies.

"No one ever got sick at any of our rallies, to include me. Start a church, and I get sick," said Walters. "I got it because Satan deemed to get it. Because he wanted to quiet my work, to slow down the building of a church. That's what this is about. But the world won't see that."

"Why? Because they live behind a veil," he added. "They choose to hate God."

Walters also said that he has been going into public without a mask for months, insisted that he has "not changed one iota" despite testing positive, although he said he had stayed home for most of the past week.

Newsweek reached out to Walters for comment but did not receive a response in time for publication.

[Delarage]

1. Wingnut

"Why? Because they live behind a veil," he added. "They choose to hate God."

I live behind a mask so that, hopefully, I and others won't die from the coronavirus. I'm not sure if a veil would work, but it's probably better than nothing

And poo on him, because I am a regular church-going liberal. My church is smart enough to hold "virtual services."

[magicarpet]

2. Good for him,... hope they run out of ventilators just before he walks in the door.

[Timewas]

3. Good

I am at the point of not giving a shit what happens to any of those asshats...

[Iggo]

13. They're spreading it. (n/t)

[Timewas]

15. I hope

That they don't spread it to any innocents but don't really care about them, they don't care about anyone else and I am totally fed up with the entire bunch ... Wouldn't piss on them if they were on fire

[Iggo]

18. The virus doesn't care who's the good guys and who's the bad guys.

I'd definitely piss on that fire if the fire endangered my house.

I've been fed up with them before this and I'll be fed up with them after this.

The point is to make sure there is an "after this."

[Timewas]

19. really

This is way way beyond being "fed up" they have almost entirely ruined this country. If they get sick and die a horrible death they deserve it,if they don;t give a rats ass for their relatives then it is on them and any relations that can't see what they are..

[GReedDiamond]

4. trump humping moron.

How many others did this motherfucker infect?

Still he refuses to cooperate with contact tracing.

It's assholes like this that deserve to suffer.

[lunasun]

5. He blamed "Satan" for his contracting the virus. He is the devil here spreading without care

[SiliconValley_Dem]

6. if its what you say, I love it especially later in the summer

[Turbineguy]

7. Well, now that he's positive

Last edited Sat Jul 4, 2020, 06:51 PM - Edit history (1)

he can give it to others.

So for him, it's not all bad.

[Andy823]

8. I think God decided

We don't need any more of this idiots starting churches, so...

[Midnight Writer]

9. This man "tested" God, and God slapped him.

[Thomas Hurt]

10. Rolled the dice, tested his God and lost...then he blames Satan.

I hate to say it, but these won't get unless their leaders, like this guy die in a gruesome and well publicized manner.

Unfortunately, even then if won't get through to any others. Magical thinkers die for the stupidest reasons.

[SWBTATTReg]

11. This is pathetic in blaming others for his screw up. What a coward and even worse,

not allowing the contact tracers to notify others who came in contact w/ this buffoon. If he is so nonchalant w/ the lives of others (and his too), then perhaps he should be denied hospital care/medical care until he does provide this information (contact information). Kind of grossly unfair for others to suffer because of this half wit.

[Initech]

12. *pretends to be shocked*

[Leith]

14. It's good that his name has been publicized

He has been walking around since this whole thing began, he gets symptoms, keeps going out without a mask, and he won't lift a finger to help medical personnel or the people he came into contact with while contagious.

He's scum.

[roamer65]

20. THIS.

[Windy City Charlie]

16. When I read something like this

When I read something like this I realize how much we're doomed. They just don't get it, do they? The guy doesn't wear a mask, went to reopen rallies, was infected with COVID and ended up in an ER, and still doesn't think not wearing a mask had anything to do it. How asinine! He thinks it was all based on religious factors, and not science.

[struggle4progress]

17. "Organizing Cough-ins across America!"