GOP State Lawmaker: 'I Want To See More People' Get Coronavirus
A GOP lawmaker in Alabama said he’s “not concerned” about the current spike in cases of the coronavirus in the state.
“In fact, quite honestly, I want to see more people, because we start reaching an immunity as more people have it and get through it,” Alabama state Sen. Del Marsh told reporters Thursday.
“I don’t want any deaths — as few as possible,” he continued. “So those people who are susceptible to the disease, especially those with preexisting conditions, elderly population, those folks, we need to do all we can to protect them. But I’m not concerned. I want to make sure that everybody can receive care. And right now we have, to my knowledge as of today, we still have ample beds.”
Check out Marsh’s comments here:
Sen. Del Marsh says he is not concerned about reaching more than 2,000 cases in one day.
Marsh says he wants to see more people with COVID-19 because "we start reaching an immunity as more people have it and get through it." pic.twitter.com/JH43IJCdUw— Lydia Nusbaum (@LydiaNusbaum) July 9, 2020
In his comments, Marsh ― who sits on the state’s coronavirus task force ― appeared to be referring to the idea of herd immunity, which contends that a virus will not spread as easily once a certain high percentage of the population has contracted it or been vaccinated, and therefore developed the necessary antibodies.
The controversial approach has been contested by scientists and public health experts: Herd immunity could still be a long way off from happening, if it does at all with this virus, even with a vaccine.
Marsh’s comments drew scorn on Twitter:
It’s probably much easier to be “not concerned” when you don’t actually understand science.
Those of us with advanced degrees in science are actually pretty concerned. #stayinyourlane#alpolitics#aldems#al01https://t.co/ELqy4FzFbR— Kiani for Congress (@KianiGardner) July 10, 2020