Far From “Winning the Pandemic,” DeSantis’ Actions Needlessly Prolong the Suffering of Floridians
Washington, DC — Republicans across the country have abandoned their duty to protect their constituents, rejecting science and prolonging the pandemic. Gov. Ron DeSantis is among the worst, despite prematurely declaring victory over Covid-19 nearly a year ago. With a large unvaccinated population and the Omicron variant on the rise, Florida is facing its worst surge of Covid-19 cases since the pandemic began. Just recently, he allowed a million Covid-19 tests expire while Floridians scrambled for testing and the Omicron variant surged through his state, pushed vaccine disinformation while asking the federal government for more help, and continued to stand by his disastrous decisions regarding his state’s response to Covid-19.
“Ron DeSantis is a disaster for Florida. Anyone who looks at the state’s skyrocketing numbers can do the math for themselves,” said Protect Our Care Executive Director Brad Woodhouse. “While Floridians waited in long lines, Covid-19 tests sat unused and expiring in warehouses. While Omicron rages through his state, the Governor pushes lies about vaccines, putting peoples’ lives on the line in pursuit of his own political gain and prolonging the pandemic. Ron DeSantis hasn’t won the pandemic – his actions over the past year show how badly he’s lost. He should be ashamed of putting politics over the health and safety of the people in his state.”
DESANTIS’S DERILICTION OF DUTY:
DeSantis Lets A Million Unused Tests Expire While Floridians Struggle To Find Tests. Governor DeSantis and his administration covered up that 800,000 to 1,000,000 Covid-19 rapid tests expired in a warehouse from December 26th through the 30th. As Covid-19 tests have become scarce, Floridians have had to wait in hours-long lines in order to get tested. DeSantis has asked for an expiration date extension and has announced that his administration will distribute 1,000,000 at home tests to assisted living facilities for seniors.
DeSantis Spreads Vaccine Misinformation As Omicron Variant Surges Across Florida. In his first press conference of 2022, Governor DeSantis said, “With Omicron, you know, the vaccinations are not preventing infection.” Doctors and scientists staunchly oppose this sentiment arguing that those inoculated and boosted against Covid-19 are best protected against severe sickness and hospitalization from the Omicron variant. DeSantis also supports monoclonal antibody treatments as a solution to the coronavirus pandemic. However, recent studies have shown that antibody treatments do little to counteract the effects of the Omicron variant.
Republican State Lawmakers And DeSantis Ban Vaccine Passports. Gov. DeSantis signed Senate Bill 2006 into law in early May 2021 to ban vaccine passports and “government overreach.” This limits when the state and local governments can call for an emergency order and allows the Governor of Florida to invalidate a local emergency order if it unnecessarily restricts the rights or liberties of individuals. This law and Executive Orders 21-101 and 21-102 ended local emergency orders. On June 27, 2021, DeSantis did not renew the state’s emergency order.
DeSantis’ Failed Attempt To Block Cruise Ships Requiring Proof Of Vaccination. A U.S. judge agreed with a Norwegian Cruise Line challenge on DeSantis’ vaccine passport ban saying that the ban “jeopardizes public health and is an unconstitutional infringement” on the cruise liner’s rights. After shutting down in March 2020 from the CDC’s “no sail order,” Norwegian promised a 95 percent vaccination rate for passengers to resume its cruises on August 15, 2021.
DeSantis Bans Mask Mandates In Schools. On July 30, 2021, Gov. DeSantis issued Executive Order 21-075 to ban mask mandates in schools and allow parents the right to decide if their children wear masks. After facing backlash from school districts with mask mandates already in place, DeSantis threatened to withhold salaries of superintendents and school boards disregarding his executive order and ultimately withheld funds from two districts — $194,720 from Alachua County and $526,197 from Broward County. In November, Florida’s state board of education voted to restore funding to school districts that previously imposed mask mandates, following those districts lifting their mask orders.
DeSantis Appoints Misinformation Fanatic As Surgeon General. Governor DeSantis appointed Dr. Joseph Ladapo to the position of General Surgeon–an extremist who has peddled dangerous misinformation, pushed quack cures like hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin and called masks a “distraction.” Reports now state that Lapado will bring home a $362,000 paycheck each year, a massive increase from his predecessor and a slap in the face to Floridians who are facing economic hardships due to the pandemic.