Chesapeake School Board member has spread false information about coronavirus and masks

As schools debate how to reopen safely this fall, a Chesapeake School Board member has been spreading misinformation and conspiracy theories about the coronavirus on Facebook. One teacher called the posts disturbing, and some of the posts she shared were flagged by Facebook as containing false information.

Christie New Craig’s posts, which were public at the time, drew scores of comments, likes or shares.

Craig, first elected to the board in 2010, regularly posted on her personal Facebook page, which she made private Wednesday afternoon, about an hour after a Virginian-Pilot reporter called her for comment.

In between posts about traveling or cooking, Craig frequently shared memes about the pandemic and Gov. Ralph Northam’s stay-at-home order as the virus spread across the United States. At various points, she described the virus, which has killed more than 130,000 Americans, as a “government-induced/controlled pandemic” and said she does not wear a mask and falsely called masks ineffective.

Many posts or memes she shared discussed how state-ordered shutdowns have hurt Virginians and small businesses, leading to high unemployment — common criticisms made by conservatives. But other posts contained misinformation.

At least one teacher called the posts “disturbing,” especially for a person like Craig in a position of power, sharing concerns other educators have that Craig does not have their best interest at heart and that she’s willing to let personal political opinions get in the way of medical, scientific questions.

One image she shared that was flagged by Facebook for containing false information said mask-wearing reduces oxygen by 60%. Claims like that have been labeled false by the American Lung Association, which said masks are designed to be breathed through and there is no evidence they cause low oxygen levels.

Reached Wednesday, Craig, a former deputy sheriff who serves as chief of staff to Republican state Sen. John Cosgrove, said many of the posts she shares are memes created by others and are meant to be funny. She said they come with a disclaimer: that her page is a “no offend zone.” She said what she posts on her personal page does not affect her job on the School Board.

Asked about the post she shared on masks, Craig said repeatedly that you can Google whether masks are good for you and get different answers. But the answer from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is clear: They slow the spread of viruses and should be worn in public places, especially indoors, except by very young children or those with certain conditions.

During the interview, Craig mentioned more than once how Northam was seen in Virginia Beach posing in pictures without a mask and close to people on Memorial Day weekend, something the governor’s spokeswoman said he should not have done.

Craig also mentioned more than once that the nation’s death rate from the virus remains low even as cases rise. Medical experts caution against looking at death rates in a vacuum, and Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, warned people this week not to get into “false complacency” or take comfort in a lower death rate.

Craig also said the posts were on her personal Facebook page, not one designated for her role as a School Board member. Shortly after speaking with a reporter, she made the personal page private, meaning you can no longer see any of her posts — unless you’re friends with her.

The Pilot sought comment from Craig’s fellow school board members. Dr. Patricia King declined to comment. Others, including Chairwoman Victoria Proffitt and Vice Chairwoman Colleen Leary, didn’t respond.

After the story published, King posted on her Facebook page, saying it was “truly disheartening and painful to witness the division in our country.”

“Leaders must be held to a higher standard,” King wrote without referencing Craig or her posts. “Science is based on facts, not opinions. COVID19 is real and has killed over 130,000 of our neighbors here in the US. This is not debatable. It has nothing to do with politics, hurting Donald Trump, campaign tactics or attempts to further divide. It is simply factual.”

‘That is my opinion’

Though many of Craig’s posts about coronavirus were memes created by others, some were in her own words.

One in particular from June 29 drew hundreds of comments and shares. In it, she wrote that “since March 2020 and COVID-19, the government has successfully figured out a way to make you believe that COVID-19 is deadly yet the survival rate is 98% (people are testing positive, they are not dying)” and that test results are not accurate. The pandemic has ruined Virginians lives and destroyed the economy, the post went on.

“But wait there is more,” Craig wrote, “this is all being done to keep Trump from winning again in 2020.”

Pressed about sharing that statement in a post she deemed factual, and what evidence she had for the claim, Craig said it was her opinion.

“I believe a lot of stuff is being done to keep Trump out of office,” Craig said in an interview. “I don’t care if you quote me or not. That is my opinion.”

The posts were no joke to Cindy Marshall.

A Chesapeake special education teacher for the last 21 years, Marshall taught her last class at Great Bridge High School in June. Her retirement becomes official this fall.

Marshall said she hadn’t been aware of Craig’s public Facebook posts up until this week when the June 29 post was shared within a private teachers page on the social app.

“The fact that she is a member of the School Board and has the power in her hands to influence what school will look like in the fall and how many teachers might have to put their health on the line, I just find it disconcerting she doesn’t believe the medical science,” Marshall said.

She and others noted Craig had a back-and-forth with Dr. Nancy Welch, the director of the city’s health department, in the comments section of the June post.

Welch wrote that health officials do seek to quarantine and mask healthy people, adding people who display no symptoms of the virus can still be spreading it to others.

“I will never allow the government to quarantine a healthy person like myself,” Craig responded, going on to say the number of people dying is on the decline and “this pandemic that they have created backfired.”

Another commenter wrote that by not wearing a mask, Craig was putting those around her in danger if she is exposed and that others wearing masks protects her if they are exposed.

“I am a very healthy person, I take care of myself,” Craig wrote. “You do not quarantine or mask healthy people. If you were sick or you were vulnerable I support your wearing a mask.”

‘You never know’

Like Welch, other health officials have repeatedly said people can have the coronavirus without symptoms and that seemingly healthy people can unknowingly spread it to others, a risk that’s heightened if they don’t wear masks.

In an email to The Pilot, Welch wrote that she has great respect for Craig and that the two have agreed to disagree.

She said Virginia’s ability to reopen without increases in positive cases depends on how well people comply with social distancing guidelines and wear masks. There’s been increases of cases among 20-49 year olds, Welch wrote, a demographic that typically does not show symptoms but can spread the virus.

“And you never know to whom you may be spreading the virus — that’s the risk,” Welch wrote.

Health experts have urged people to social distance, wash hands and wear masks, steps the Mayo Clinic says help slow the spread of the virus.

Craig’s posts this year are not the first to come under criticism.

In 2015, Craig shared a meme that read, “Muslims hate pork, beer, dogs, bikinis, Jesus, and freedom of speech. My question is, what the hell do they come to America for?!”

Asked Wednesday about the post, Craig said a friend sent it to her and she didn’t comment on it, she just shared it, adding she didn’t mean to offend anybody.

“I am a very American person. I believe in our country,” Craig said. “It’s a privilege to be here…I welcome anybody to come to this country. But don’t come to this country and try to hurt it, don’t come to this country and try to destroy it. Don’t come to this country and try to change it.”

Marshall, the retiring teacher, said she finds it difficult to separate the posts and Craig’s ability to make good decisions. A lot of teachers, she said, are “disgusted” by the posts.

Teachers were also upset about comments Craig made Monday night when the School Board was presented with a plan on how learning would happen in the fall, Marshall said. Families will be able to choose between two options: an all-virtual online learning experience or on-campus learning that could mean students are in the classroom five days a week.

Craig said she considers teachers essential personnel so “they have to make some hard choices.”

“They’ve got to decide are they going to retire, go out medically or are they going to come back to school,” Craig said during the meeting. “That’s just it. I was in law enforcement I had to go and report to duty. So unfortunately our teachers to me are essential personnel.”

The comments were seen as dismissive to some teachers who heard that comment as: either come back to work and do what we tell you or you can quit or retire.

Craig says that’s not the case: She meant essential as a positive term and that she holds teachers up as critical to society. She was not saying you have to come back to work or get out. She said there were options of getting out medically, retiring or coming back to work. For those with health concerns, she said, there’s a process to apply to teach online in the fall.

Gordon Rago, 757-446-2601, gordon.rago@pilotonline.com