Internet Culture

Oregon nurse placed on leave after posting anti-mask TikTok

The nurse bragged on TikTok about not wearing a mask.

Photo of Audra Schroeder

Audra Schroeder

nurse jokes about coronavirus

A nurse in Salem, Oregon has been placed on administrative leave after her TikTok mocking COVID-19 protocols went viral.

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According to the Salem Statesman Journal, the woman, identified as Ashley Grames, works at Salem Health. On Saturday, the hospital posted a statement about the TikTok, saying: “This individual does not speak for Salem Health and has been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation.”

Grames’ TikTok account has been deleted, but the video was included in a duet. In the clip, Grames uses audio from How the Grinch Stole Christmas to accompany this caption: “When my co workers find out I still travel, dont wear a mask when I am out and let my kids have play dates.”

The caption of the duet summed up a lot of people’s thoughts about a healthcare worker publicly flouting basic COVID protocols in the middle of a massive nationwide surge in cases and deaths: “Imagine being an oncology nurse during a pandemic and bragging about not taking precautions.”

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Last week, a nurse in Florida bragged about not wearing a mask outside of her workplace.

https://www.tiktok.com/@amandabutcher2/video/6899924311990095110

According to the Salem Statesman Journal, Salem Health reportedly has the highest number of employee-related COVID cases of any hospital in the state (including family members of employees). The investigation will look into who Grames was recently in contact with at the hospital.

In its statement, Salem Health reassured the community “that this one careless statement does not reflect the position of Salem Health or the hardworking and dedicated caregivers who work here.”

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The Daily Dot