As Florida Children Suffer From COVID, DeSantis Calls Skyrocketing Cases “Something You Just Have to Deal With”

At an appearance in Jacksonville this week, Gov. Ron DeSantis admitted Florida’s COVID cases are higher than expected yet stood by his opposition to commonsense safety measures. With the delta variant fueling record-high cases and hospitalizations, DeSantis directed concerned Floridians to “deal with” it.

In his crusade against safety for children, DeSantis has threatened to defund schools’ budgets and cut district leaders’ salaries if they mandate masks. The threat was short-lived as DeSantis admitted neither was possible.

In the past month, DeSantis’ lack of leadership has led to a 550% spike in cases for children under 12 and a 520% spike in hospitalizations for children under the age of 18.

For months, DeSantis has been criticized for withholding information on the state of the virus, and earlier this week, he conceded he “did not know” that Florida requested hundreds of ventilators from the federal government.

DGA Deputy Communications Director Sam Newton said: “These latest out-of-touch comments from Ron DeSantis once again show he cares more about his own politics than the hundreds of Florida children in the hospital with COVID right now. Voters will reject his failed leadership in 2022.” 

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