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The Republican’s order sparked new debate in the politically divided state, where responses to the pandemic have been intertwined with the upcoming presidential elections. DeSantis acknowledged that the pandemic is far from over, but said the threat has lessened.
“We’re not going to shut anything down in the future,” DeSantis said, insisting that the state is prepared if infections spike again.
The governor said he would prevent cities and counties from charging fines to people who don’t wear masks.
“As an act of executive grace, all fines and sanctions that have been applied against people are suspended,” said the governor.
Democrats lamented the push to reopen as rushed.
“No one is advocating a large-scale blockade in Florida. But we have been and continue to call for common sense prevention measures, such as face masks, which are essential to prevent further spread, ”said State Senator Audrey Gibson.
Florida has long been a Covid-19 hotspot, with almost 700,000 infected. Almost 14,000 have died.
The governor reluctantly closed bars and nightclubs on St. Patrick’s Day and days later restricted restaurants to takeout meals. Amusement parks came to a standstill. The closings hit the economy. More than 2.5 million Floridians have filed for unemployment benefits.
DeSantis has been under pressure to revive the economy, largely dependent on tourism. Like Trump, DeSantis has questioned the effectiveness of the closures, arguing that states that had closed more aggressively, including California, have fared no better.
California has had more than 800,000 coronavirus cases and more than 15,000 deaths. While California has suffered slightly more infections and deaths, its population is almost twice that of Florida.
“The state of Florida is probably the most open large state in the country,” DeSantis boasted, however, on Friday.
New infections in Florida have steadily declined since a peak in July. Florida added 2,847 confirmed cases on Friday, pushing his total to 695,887. The state also announced 120 new deaths, pushing his total to 14,038.
