Georgia teacher's dying wish was that everyone wear a mask — his school board refused

On Monday, The Daily Beast reported that some members of the Cobb County school board in Georgia refused to wear masks at a recent hearing — even after one of their teachers who died of COVID-19, Patrick Key, specified as his dying wish that everyone wear masks to protect those around them.

"His obituary read: 'Patrick felt passionate about wearing masks during the pandemic. In lieu of flowers, please buy and wear a mask to protect others and yourself in honor of him,'" reported Jamie Ross. "At a meeting of the Board of Education in Cobb County last week, school district employee Jennifer Susko begged members of the board who were not wearing masks to put them on 'as a tribute to this teacher who did everything you asked of him, even teaching through a pandemic.' But at least two men remained maskless."

"Susko went on to say: 'I would like the record to reflect that some of you did not wear a mask... The final request of a Cobb teacher who died. Your actions in these two minutes have spoken louder than words,'" continued the report.

The wearing of masks, a scientifically accepted safety precaution to prevent the spread of disease, became a politicized issue under former President Donald Trump, who routinely went in public without one, and whose supporters followed his lead.