Rav Shapira paskened that when a talmid chcochom dies, people are supposed to say the bracha of Dayan Haemmes with God's name as a full bracha, especially on such a talmid chochom that died now, two weeks after getting infected with the accursed CoronaVirus.
However, Rav Shapira writes, just a month ago we saw pictures of the gaon sitting as his granddaughters wedding with no mask covering his face, and he was sitting with tens of unmasked people around him. Because we say when a chilul hashem is caused we do not give honor to the rav, there is no greater chilul hashem than the small number of people who kill others with their mouths.
Therefore, Rav Shapira paskens, people should not mourn the death of Rav Wosner and should definitely not make the bracha of Dayan Haemmes nor say amen after someone else's bracha.
Pretty harsh and bold.
Hamoked later reported (no link, sorry - it was in their whatsapp news broadcast group) that Rav Shapira retracted his psak, though it does not say why.
It turns out that the retraction is due to the rabbi being told that Rav Wosner suffered from Alzherimers in recent years. That being the case, he cannot be blamed for not wearing the mask, but those around him and those who cared for him are to blame. That being the case, he isn't at fault for any chilul hashem, so should be mourned as the death of any talmid chochom.
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