Teenage Alabama metropolis councilman who voted in opposition to masks mandate exams constructive for COVID-19
A young person who final 12 months turned the youngest particular person ever elected to his metropolis council revealed this week that he has examined constructive for COVID-19 simply months after voting to finish an area masks mandate.
Hunter Pepper, 19, informed native NBC affiliate WAFF that he obtained two constructive COVID-19 exams Wednesday and spent greater than six hours at an area hospital, the place he mentioned he was identified with “COVID pneumonia.”
“I didn’t suppose they had been as dangerous as they’re, and they’re, they’re horrible, I imply, they’re horrible and it’s tough,” the Decatur Metropolis Council member mentioned of the virus.
In keeping with The Washington Put up, Pepper wrote in a personal put up on his Fb web page Wednesday that his situation “has terrified me and my household.”
“The media continues to report on Covid-19 and explains ‘Loss of life’ every time they do,” he reportedly added. “That’s truthfully terrifying to me however I place confidence in the lord.”
Pepper, whose signs included issue respiratory, fever, headache and vomiting, informed WAFF that he was now at house and that his situation was step by step enhancing.
In April, Pepper was among the many council members who voted to elevate the town’s masks mandate, saying on the time that he believed “sporting a masks ought to be my alternative,” native ABC affiliate WAAY reported.
The teenager additionally took to Fb over the summer time to criticize Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey
Kay IveyFb says elimination of Alabama governor’s marketing campaign was not primarily based on Biden feedback GOP sees Biden vaccine mandates as energizing concern for midterms Hurricane Ida might strengthen to Class 4 earlier than hitting US MORE (R), who blamed “unvaccinated of us” for current surges in COVID-19 instances, arguing that these refusing to get the vaccine had been “letting us down.”
Pepper wrote in a public put up on the time, “If you select to get vaccinated that’s your alternative.”
“I’ll NEVER, push one thing on you or let you know that it’s essential to do one thing or your not a terrific member of society (sorta like Govenor Ivey did yesterday) as a result of I don’t agree with it,” he added.
Pepper informed WAFF this week that he has obtained criticism for his previous remarks since he introduced his COVID-19 analysis, explaining, “I’ve had of us inform me that they hope there’s no ventilator accessible for me.”
“It’s horrible, and I hope I don’t need to be placed on a ventilator,” he added. “All people has the best to their opinion and will by no means be torn down and wished loss of life upon due to one thing that they consider in.”
The councilman added that whereas his private opinion on the significance of COVID-19 security restrictions has modified, he nonetheless doesn’t consider that governments ought to impose masks or vaccine necessities on residents.
“I’m not saying that it ought to be mandated and I’m not saying that vaccinations ought to be mandated, however I really feel that everyone ought to play their half,” he informed the native information outlet.