Harford County’s Top Health Official Says He Was Fired For Political Reasons, Advocacy Of Masks In Schools And Vaccines

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BALTIMORE (WJZ) — Dr. David Bishai served arsenic Harford County’s Health Officer since January. He told WJZ Investigator Mike Hellgren helium was abruptly fired aft being summoned to the Maryland Department of Health office for a gathering past Friday.

Former Harford County Health Officer Dr. David Bishai speaks astir his abrupt termination by the authorities section of wellness astatine the region council’s request. He believes it was politically motivated due to the fact that helium has advocated for vaccinations and disguise wearing. @wjz pic.twitter.com/TOlDH5lxZJ

— Mike Hellgren (@HellgrenWJZ) October 27, 2021

“The Deputy Secretary of Health walks into the country and says, ‘You’re being terminated contiguous effectual immediately.’ I person to say, ‘Why person I been terminated? I wasn’t warned astir this.’ And she says this is the petition of the region council,” Dr. Bishai told Hellgren. “They enactment successful a petition to the Secretary of Health who agreed with their request. I asked what was the region council’s reason, and the lone mentation the Deputy Secretary gave maine was that the region assembly wants to determination successful a caller direction.”

The authorities section of wellness sent this connection to WJZ: “The Maryland Department of Health tin corroborate that Dr. Bishai is nary longer the Harford County wellness officer. MDH does not remark connected the specifics of unit matters.”

Bishai believes his advocacy for masks successful schools and for vaccinations made him a governmental people of immoderate region assembly members.

“It wasn’t conscionable the governmental voices they were proceeding that interfered with my quality to bash the enactment I’ve committed to. They stopped the enactment I’ve committed to,” Bishai said.

WJZ has covered vocal protests against disguise mandates successful the county.

On Facebook, the radical We The People called Doctor Bishai’s ouster a victory. “Great occupation to everyone that stands up and fights for this county. We are 1 tiny triumph in, with galore to go. There is spot successful numbers. Hold the enactment Patriots!” the radical posted.

Some person openly criticized Dr. Bishai astatine region assembly meetings for months. One idiosyncratic accused him and Dr. Anthony Fauci of “fear mongering.”

Bishai tells Hellgren helium would see taking his aged occupation again if it were offered, but helium has yet to beryllium asked back.

“Some members of the region assembly person been playing to the applause successful the room. I deliberation they whitethorn person made a calculation that the voices they were proceeding successful the country are the keys to electoral success. That’s my champion mentation for wherefore they would instrumentality this move,” Bishai said.

Jared DeCoste started a petition to get Dr. Bishai reinstated that present has much than 1,000 signatures. He told Hellgren helium was “absolutely shocked” erstwhile helium heard astir the termination and called for accountability.

“Whether they perceive oregon not is gong to beryllium 1 thing, but they’re gong to person to reply for it,” DeCoste said.

You tin spot the petition here.

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Bishai provided a list of the wellness initiatives underway successful Harford County and said helium is arrogant of the enactment helium did portion wellness officer.