DeSantis Must Be Held Accountable for Prolonging the Pandemic to Score Political Points
Tallahassee, FL – Yesterday and today, a mobile billboard appeared outside the Florida State Capitol to hold Governor Ron DeSantis accountable for his horrific record on COVID-19. From denying science by promoting treatments proven not to work on the Omicron variant, to downplaying vaccines and masks, DeSantis has remained committed to prolonging the pandemic by pandering to the most extreme parts of his base. The mobile billboard will circle the capitol in Tallahassee between 10 AM and 6 PM EST today.
“‘Rona Ron DeSantis is a total disaster for Florida,” said Coronavirus War Room Director Nicole Haley. “His actions, like downplaying life-saving vaccines and promoting treatments that don’t work against Omicron, are putting his constituents’ lives at risk. He must be held accountable for spreading misinformation and making it more difficult to put an end to this pandemic.”
RON DESANTIS IS A DISASTER FOR FLORIDA:
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 had to ask 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 While The Omicron Variant Surged 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.
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 brings 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.