Trump has a historical past of downplaying the specter of coronavirus and repeatedly predicting an financial renewal, solely to see Covid-19 circu
Trump has a historical past of downplaying the specter of coronavirus and repeatedly predicting an financial renewal, solely to see Covid-19 circumstances surge together with hospitalizations and deaths in several components of the nation. This spring, DeSantis equally fumed at his critics for predicting a wave of coronavirus circumstances would overtake Florida underneath his management, solely to see circumstances, hospitalizations and deaths bounce after reopening the state in early June.
A DeSantis spokesman didn’t reply to a request for remark.
Epidemiologists and Democrats predicted that might occur once more, particularly with the president holding large rallies with out individuals sporting masks and a governor decided to open the state shortly. However whether or not the circumstances will skyrocket the best way they did in July relies upon largely on whether or not people take the prerogative to maintain sufficient social distance and put on masks.
On the day DeSantis made his announcement, the state reported 2,847 new confirmed coronavirus circumstances and 120 associated deaths. Whole circumstances since March 1: 695,887. Whole deaths: 14,038.
Even when circumstances rise, it’s “extremely possible” that circumstances received’t spike in a significant approach earlier than Election Day, stated Jason Salemi, an epidemiologist with the College of South Florida, “particularly if it begins with the less-vulnerable after which extends to the more-vulnerable from the less-vulnerable.”
Florida slowly started the method of reopening earlier this month, however DeSantis’ resolution Friday accelerated it at warp pace. It additionally blindsided Republican allies like Carlos Gimenez, a congressional candidate and mayor of Miami-Dade, the state’s most-populous county, and residential to essentially the most coronavirus circumstances within the state.
Miami-Dade used to have a county-wide mask-wearing ordinance and fines to provide it tooth. Now, that precaution has been blocked by DeSantis.
Gimenez stated the county may nonetheless impose restrictions however must let companies and bars open up, and so they may very well be topic to some laws. Miami-Dade’s 11 p.m. curfew may also stay in impact, Gimenez stated, who confessed to some fear.
“In fact, I’m involved,” Gimenez stated whereas steering away from criticizing DeSantis.
DeSantis was solely in a position to block native governments from levying the fines as a result of the governor didn’t repeal his state-of-emergency order, which supplies him extraordinary powers. So the state is technically underneath an emergency as a result of coronavirus — an order nonetheless standing regardless of the rhetoric from Trump and DeSantis so the governor can maintain pull again native governments from reacting to that emergency.
The Florida Democratic Celebration’s chairwoman, Terri Rizzo, accused Trump and DeSantis of ignoring science, issuing unhealthy messages throughout a pandemic and presiding over an “unmitigated catastrophe.”
“All of us desperately need issues to return again to regular, however that may’t occur when DeSantis and Trump haven’t any plan to get us out of this public well being disaster,” Rizzo stated.