Democrats in the Florida state Congress on Friday called on the governor to impose a statewide face mask mandate to help combat record peaks of COVID-19.
State health officials reported a daily record of 22,690 new cases of coronavirus on Friday night, along with 128 new deaths, according to the state Department of Health.
The Health Department was unable to contact to verify the new extreme increase in numbers, and Johns Hopkins University had not yet verified those figures.
Florida has been considered the epicenter of coronavirus cases in the U.S., Texas reported the second-highest number of cases on Friday with 10,256 new cases, and California reported 9,986 new cases.
New York, once the epicenter of the virus, reported a daily record of 6,378 cases on April 6, according to the New York City Department of Health.
FLORIDA MAYOR FORMS STRIKE TEAMS TO MAKE EFFECTIVE THE MANDATE OF CORONAVIRUS MASK
In a letter to Governor Ron DeSantis, led by Representative Donna Shalala, Democrats urged DeSantis to order mask orders and reinstate blockade measures in the areas most affected by the pandemic.
“By not reopening our state in the safe, smart, and step-by-step manner it promised, and by ignoring CDC’s criteria for control, our state may be forced into a statewide economic shutdown, either by order or simply because Floridians and visitors don’t feel safe, “the letter said.
DeSantis has repeatedly rejected calls to enforce the masking mandates, saying he did not believe the order was effective and would only be “counterproductive.”
“We have warned that it is something that could have an impact,” DeSantis said last month. “At the same time, doing the police and applying criminal penalties is likely to backfire.”
The Florida alcohol regulatory agency announced in late June that they would ban all sales of alcohol for “local consumption” following an increase in cases.
“We are now facing uncontrolled outbreaks across the state that have resulted in long lines for testing, delayed testing results, barriers to effective contact tracing and that jeopardize the safe reopening of our schools,” the letter said. sent to DeSantis.
12 FLORIDA EMERGENCY OPERATIONS POSITIVE EMPLOYEE TEST FOR CORONAVIRUSES, CENTER CLOSES TEMPORARILY FOR CLEANING
“By delaying steps like a statewide mask order and specific orders to stay home for even one more day, additional business closings and their devastating impacts on the Florida economy and the livelihoods of our constituents may be necessary. “
The letter was signed by 12 Florida Democrats from the US House of Representatives, including Rep. Ted Deutch, who accused the governor of playing favorites with the president rather than protecting the safety of Floridians.
“Like the president. Governor DeSantis is trying to spin the data and ignore health experts, and it is producing disastrous results for Floridians, “Deutch said in a virtual conference on Friday, according to Sun Sentinelhttps: //www.sun-sentinel.com / news / politics /fl-ne-mh-democrats-demand-shutdown-masks-20200717-i4o3asfk4ngbdadfeq34tycofu-story.html.
Florida has recorded more than 327,000 cases and more than 4,800 deaths.
DeSantis has said the situation is not as bleak as the numbers report, arguing that the infection rate has increased because testing skills have increased. President Trump has reiterated this belief on several occasions, but it is contrary to what health experts have said.
“This epidemic is accelerating,” said World Health Organization (WHO) official Dr. Michael Ryan, during a press conference on Tuesday last week.
DeSantis could not be reached for comment on the letter.
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“Death and disease lie at the feet of Ron DeSantis,” said US Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz during the video conference on Friday. “The governor needs to do his damn job.”
Wasserman Schultz and Shalala could not be reached for comment.
