Stern words from a Palm Beach County commissioner Tuesday, ahead of a hearing about the coronavirus pandemic.
"I'm just giving a warning to those in the community, do not come up to this podium today and try to tell me that this is a virus that doesn't need to be taken seriously."
Melissa McKinlay said her 19-year old daughter was in an Orlando hospital emergency room after testing positive for COVID-19, and was suffering from "excruciating shooting leg pains."
McKinlay said that for six months she had heard from members of the community downplaying the coronavirus and that she wouldn't have any of it on this day.
"I don't want to hear anything about underground media reports or anything from quack denier doctors."
She continued...
"People who continue to come before this board and tell us that we need herd immunity and that the young people in our community need to catch this virus because they don't have any symptoms, well I'm here to tell you that that's not true."
The commissioner said that she would be making her decisions from a "personal experience."
The board was about to hear from several bar owners who are not being allowed to reopen, despite an order from the state that those types of establishments may not do so.
Photo: CBS 12