On Wednesday morning, Kayleigh McEnany appeared on Fox News and gave statements against the lockdown restrictions imposed by states.
This concerns some measures that governors are imposing to curb the spread of the coronavirus pandemic as the holidays approach. McEnany told Fox & Friends panel, “I think a lot of guidelines you’re seeing are Orwellian.”
Orwellian is an adjective used to describe a situation or a societal condition identified as being detrimental to the welfare of a free and open society.
She then asserted that the American people know how to protect their health as they have dealt with the coronavirus pandemic for months.
Donald Trump's press secretary Kayleigh McEnany calls states' rules to curb spread of COVID 'Orwellian' and claims 'American people know how to protect their health' as cases rocket
via https://t.co/5IEzCGTIdL https://t.co/KxSE7vW1xJ— Platinum News ‘#EndSARS’ (@aigbanegbe) November 18, 2020
The White House Press Secretary specifically referenced the two-week “freeze” that the Oregon Governor, Kate Brown, imposed over Thanksgiving time. The said two-week freeze includes restricting gatherings for only up to six people or less. In case anyone violated said restriction, they can be issued a citation, fine, or worst, be arrested.
She continued by saying that it is Orwellian in a place like Oregan. “If you gather in numbers of more than six, we might come to your house and arrest you, and you get 30 days of jail time.” McEnany then stated that this is not the American way, as Americans do not lose their freedom in their own country.
“The American people are a freedom-loving people. We can make good decisions. We can wash our hands, wear masks, socially distance. But we can also decide in our own personal domicile, our own home, whether we can have our family members present at any given time. That is the American way. That is freedom.” McEnany said.
Last Friday, Oregon Governor Kate Brown announced stringent coronavirus restrictions by ordering a two-week “freeze,” beginning November 18 up until December 2, a timeframe that includes the period of Thanksgiving.
The said two-week “freeze” involves issuing fines, citations, or even arrests to anyone who will be caught hosting or attending gatherings of more than six people. These penalties will be imposed even on private gatherings.
During a press conference on Friday, Brown stated, “If we want to give Oregonians a fighting chance, then we must take further measures to flatten the curve now.” She added that this time is “likely the most dangerous time in Oregon,” further predicting that there are dark days ahead.
Besides restricting gathering and issuing penalties for anyone who will be caught hosting or attending gatherings, the strict two-week freeze also includes limiting pharmacy and retail stores to only 75% capacity. Faith-based congregations are also restricted to only 25 attendees if it is indoors and 50 people for outdoors.
Other than that, the two week period will also completely shut down gyms, museums, sports courts, pools, zoos, movie theatres, gardens, and other venues.
Bars and restaurants will also be closed for any in-person dining and are limited to only serving take-out.
McEnany stated that this scope of restrictions is “un-American.”
Other than Oregon Governor, California Governor Gavin Newsom was also under attack for his statewide restriction on Thanksgiving celebrations. The rules imposed by Newsom went as far as restraining how families can celebrate.
Newsom declared the rules for Thanksgiving at the end of October. Said rules include “strongly discouraging” people from singing or yelling. The gatherings over the holiday also cannot involve people from three different households.
Other than that, the California Governor also imposed a “two-hour time limit” on private gatherings. People attending said gatherings are also restricted from taking off their masks unless they will be drinking or eating while sitting six feet apart.
Furthermore, California residents were also ordered to hold their celebrations outdoors, allowing visitors inside the house only if they are using the “frequently sanitized bathroom.”
Governor Newsom then defended said restrictions, stating that people were “misled” to believe that the state would be enforcing these Thanksgiving guidelines.
