A judge in Palm Beach County, Florida, has upheld the county’s mandate requiring people to wear masks to fight the spread of COVID-19.

Four Palm Beach County residents sued the county, alleging the face mask requirement in public places infringes on their constitutional right to free speech and privacy. Circuit Court Judge John Kastrenakes ruled otherwise.

"We do not have a constitutional right to infect others," Judge Kastrenakes said in his order. "The right to be 'free from governmental intrusion' does not automatically or completely shield an individual’s conduct from regulation...This is particularly true when one’s individual choices can result in drastic, costly, and sometimes deadly, consequences to others."

According to news reports, Pompano Beach attorney Louis Leo IV, who is representing the plaintiffs, responded to the decision in a public post on Facebook, saying the order paved "the way for continued government tyranny under the guise of disease prevention."

An appeal of the decision to the District Court of Appeals is expected.

—Source: sun-sentinel.com