Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost Torches Face Mask

COLUMBUS, OH — Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost was really, really ready for the state's COVID-19 health orders to be removed.

Ohio's COVID-19 health mandates have been on the chopping block since mid-May, when Gov. Mike DeWine signaled his intention to end all remaining orders. He gave Ohioans several weeks to get vaccinated. Individual responsibility, he said at the time, would be paramount moving forward.

On Wednesday, when the orders were officially rescinded, Yost took to Twitter to share a video of him burning a face mask. While kneeling on the ground next to what appears to be a fire pit, Yost sprays lighter fluid atop a mask and then tosses a match. Jimi Hendrix plays in the background.

"For the youngsters out there, this is a bit of a spoof on Jimi Hendrix setting his Stratocaster on fire at the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival. The song sample in the background is Hendrix’s “Fire," Yost said on Twitter.

Predictably, Yost's post met with some outrage on social media. He responded by joking that one of the common side effects of COVID-19 appears to be a loss of a sense of humor.

COVID-19 restrictions will remain in place at Ohio nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Individual businesses and school systems can still implement their own COVID-19 health mandates. However, no statewide rules will remain.