Southern California health official resigns amid threats for her order to wear coronavirus masks

The health official in California’s Orange County who ordered residents to wear face masks when near others to slow the spread of the coronavirus has resigned after receiving threats for issuing the health-safety measure.

The resignation Monday by the official, Dr. Nichole Quick, marked the seventh senior health official in California to resign since the pandemic began in March. 

Quick faced threats at public meetings and on social media. 

County Executive Frank Kim said Quick was provided with a security detail and that other staffers have also received threats, according to the Associated Press. 

At a recent public meeting, a resident said she’d protest Quick’s order by inviting masking-wearing people to hold workout sessions outside Quick’s home until they dropped. 

Residents also purportedly took a banner depicting Quick as a Nazi to a public meeting and held protests outside her home.

Quick issued her order in late May, and neighboring Los Angeles County has a similar order in place.