On Saturday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo of New York announced there were zero new COVID-19 deaths in his state. Too bad Gov. Ron DeSantis can’t say the same about his state of Florida.
Current Events
On Sunday, the Florida Department of Health reported 15,299 new coronavirus cases — the highest number of new cases reported in a single day by any US state since the coronavirus pandemic began. A day earlier, Disneyworld in Orlando reopened its gates and told the world to “come on down and have fun.”
What’s wrong with this picture?
New York State went from being the epicenter of the novel coronavirus to one of the safest locations in the country. However, in contrast, the State of Florida has welcomed throngs of Spring Breakers to its beaches, reopened businesses and restaurants far sooner than the parameters set by national health officials, and even told the world to come to the land of Mickey Mouse — all while failing to flatten the curve and succeeding at sending state COVID number into an upward trajectory.
So, who exactly should the residents of Florida hold accountable for putting their health and their lives in jeopardy? Republican Gov. DeSantis and his penchant for following the horrific and deadly advice of Donald J. Trump, that’s who.
“We’ve succeeded and I think that people just don’t want to recognize it because it challenges their narrative, it challenges their assumption, so they have to try and find a boogeyman.” – Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis
Although Florida reported 93 virus deaths and 11,433 new infections on just Friday alone, DeSantis turned a blind eye to the developing emergency in his state and took a page from the Trump playbook to simply ignore the virus in the hopes that it will magically go away.
DeSantis has questioned the legitimacy of reports from health officials that Florida hospitals are at capacity and nearly out of beds. Like Trump, he has refused to mandate (or at least strongly suggest) the use of face masks. He even said on Friday that the state will be moving forward with plans to reopen schools in the fall.
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“The governor will have to own up and take personal responsibility for these sick and dead Floridians,” said Dr. Ron Saff, a Tallahassee allergist who is part of a group urging the public to phone and email the governor.
“People don’t want to wear their mask, and as a health care worker it’s frustrating,” said Esther Segura, a nurse at Jackson South Medical Center in Miami. “Spend a day in the shoes of a nurse that’s in ICU … and see what they’re seeing and then you would have a different perspective.”
“Despite the guidelines and the recommendations to open up carefully and prudently, some states skipped over those and just opened up too quickly,” Dr. Anthony Fauci said over the weekend. “Certainly Florida I know, you know, I think jumped over a couple of checkpoints,” he added.
Thanks to his unwavering allegiance to Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis now has blood on his hands — and Floridians are not at all happy.
Hopefully, the Biden campaign is taking notice.
SIX days ago Gov DeSantis said that he thought Florida’s #covid19 trends had “stabilized” at about 6,000 new cases daily and a 14% positive rate. Today the state broke the 15,000 mark and came close to 20% pos. Everything looking great for the Republican convention next month.
— John Carroll (@JohnCendpts) July 12, 2020
.@GovRonDeSantis is endangering Florida citizens by willfully obscuring data, not taking responsibility for his own failed coronavirus policies, and not taking appropriate steps to protect us. This willful failure is inexcusable. #ImpeachRonDeSantis
— Jeff VanderMeer (@jeffvandermeer) July 12, 2020
COVID is running rampant in Florida more than 15,000 new cases, but VP Pence and Governor #onetermDesantis said a week ago everything is under control in the Sunshine state because of the great job Trump and DeSantis are doing… RIGHT!!!!
— Mike Deeson (@MikeDeeson) July 12, 2020
Dear #Florida, you may have noticed by now that your trash heap @GOP governor @RonDeSantisFL, aided by complete garbage @marcorubio in sucking up to #DomesticTerrorist @realDonaldTrump, has caused DIRE results to your state. Pay attention and act accordingly. And WEAR A MASK.
— Willie Garson (@WillieGarson) July 12, 2020
You either get it or you don’t at this point. All ICUs are filled. Disney/Busch garden reopened. Hurricane DeSantis is tearing Florida apart. I am so frustrated. These people dont give a fuck cause it isnt their family, YET. More money for Disney, more death for the people. https://t.co/1SMv5Edz7y
— Ellohime (@EllohimeTwitch) July 12, 2020
I can think of No better evidence of White privilege in America than White men (and even a few white women) who’ve held OR hold positions of real power -extremely Fearful, Know-Nothings who have FAILED their way forward, for most if not all of their adult lives. From the White House to state and local offices. Trump (and the clowns in his administration). And Ron DeSantis. G.”Dubya” Bush. Doug Ducey. Rick Scott. Rick Perry. The list goes on and on. White men who are, by their very words and deeds, just boys in adult bodies PRETENDING they know what they’re doing when in actuality- They don’t. Moreover, the likes of Donald Trump couldn’t care less about being so ignorant and so dangerously incompetent. He knows that his race and gender and wealth (real or perceived) has allowed him to FAIL forward in life, time and time again. Until a deadly… Read more »