Teenage Alabama city councilor who voted against mask’s tenure is positive for COVID-19

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Teenage Alabama city councilor who voted against mask’s tenure is positive for COVID-19

A teenager who became the youngest person to ever be elected to his city council last year revealed this week that he tested positive for COVID-19 just months after voting to end a local mask term.

Hunter Pepper, 19, told local NBC affiliate WAFF that he received two positive COVID-19 tests on Wednesday and spent more than six hours at a local hospital, where he said he received a diagnosis of “COVID pneumonia”.

“I didn’t think they were as bad as they are, and they are, they’re terrible, I mean, they’re terrible and it’s hard,” the Decatur city council member told About the virus.

According to the Washington Post, Pepper wrote in a private message on his Facebook page Wednesday that his state “terrified me and my family. ”

“The media continue to report on Covid-19 and explain ‘death’ every time they do so,” he reportedly added. “It’s honestly terrifying to me but I have faith in the Lord.”

Pepper, whose symptoms included difficulty breathing, fever, headache and vomiting, told WAFF he was now at home and his condition was gradually improving.

In April, Pepper was among council members who voted to lift the city’s mask mandate, saying at the time that he believed “wearing a mask should be my choice,” said reported local ABC affiliate WAAY.

The teenager also took to Facebook over the summer to criticize Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey (R), who blamed “unvaccinated people” for recent increases in COVID-19 cases, arguing that those who refused to be vaccinated “let us down”.

Pepper wrote in a public message at the time, “IIf you choose to be vaccinated, it is your choice. ”

“I will NEVER push you anything or tell you that you have to do something or that you are not a great member of society (much like Governor Ivey did yesterday) because I am not ‘okay with that,’ he added.

Pepper told the WAFF this week he had received criticism for his past remarks since announcing his diagnosis of COVID-19, explaining, “People have told me that they hope there is no fan available for me.”

“It’s terrible, and I hope I don’t have to be put on a ventilator,” he added. “Everyone has the right to have their opinion and should never be torn down and wish death because of something they believe in.”

The adviser added that while his personal opinion on the importance of COVID-19 safety restrictions has changed, he still does not think governments should impose mask or vaccine requirements on citizens.

“I’m not saying it should be mandatory and I’m not saying vaccinations should be mandatory, but I think everyone should play their part,” he told local media.