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SLATE: Florida Is Facing a Coronavirus Catastrophe
SLATE
MARCH 30, 20206:09 PM
Following Trump’s lead, Gov. Ron DeSantis refused to shut down the state. Now he’s scapegoating New Yorkers for surging infections.
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As the coronavirus spreads throughout Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis finally took action this weekend—not to instate social distancing or quarantine requirements, like many other governors have done, but to target visitors from New York and New Orleans. DeSantis, a Republican, set up checkpoints on the highway to identify cars from the New York City area and Louisiana, which are suffering intense outbreaks. State troopers will stop these drivers, direct them to self-quarantine, and threaten them with 60 days in jail if they don’t comply.
It’s certainly true that residents of COVID-19 hot spots should not flood other states, though there’s no evidence that a wave of coronavirus refugees are descending upon Florida. But while DeSantis patrols the borders, Florida’s outbreak is already spiraling out of control: As of Monday morning, there were nearly 5,500 COVID-19 cases in the state, and 63 deaths attributed to the disease, a rapid spike from the previous few days. The virus’s exponential growth in Florida indicates that cases are poised to skyrocket. Yet DeSantis is defying public health advice that might slow infections within the state. As he enacted the interstate checkpoints last weekend, Floridians flocked to the many state beaches that remain open. In the absence of statewide leadership, counties have tried to enact their own measures, with mixed results. Neighboring Duval County closed its beaches, but St. John’s County did not, leading residents of the region to swarm its coastline. Beachgoers packed the stretch of sand just south of the county line. Until DeSantis shuts down the state beaches—a move he still firmly resists—residents will continue to congregate, despite public health experts’ warnings that they will exacerbate Florida’s coronavirus outbreak.
Florida’s first coronavirus case was announced on March 1. Since then, the virus has been permitted to spread nearly unchecked. As other governors shut down nonessential businesses, DeSantis allowed beaches, bars, restaurants, and amusement parks to remain open for weeks at the height of colleges’ spring break season. Inevitably, spring breakers contracted the virus and spread it throughout the state weeks ago. Despite DeSantis’ fixation on out-of-state visitors, the vast majority of Florida’s coronavirus patients are residents of the state who likely contracted the virus from other residents through community spread. DeSantis cannot resolve this crisis by vilifying tourists. The infections are coming from inside the state.
DeSantis has also promoted misinformation about COVID-19, falsely contradicting Anthony Fauci’s assertion that the state was experiencing community spread. And he still resists any kind of statewide shutdown, insisting that he “cannot lock down our society with no end in sight,” echoing Trump’s claim that “we can’t have the cure be worse than the problem.” On Monday, the governor finally signed a toothless order that advises residents of southeast Florida, the hardest-hit region, to stay inside. But the “safer at home” order, which merely urges residents to stay inside, appears to be weaker than the “shelter in place” order that members of Congress requested. Local officials like state Sen. José Javier Rodríguez, a Democrat, have also denounced its limited scope, saying a “patchwork approach will not cut it.”
As the coronavirus spreads throughout Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis finally took action this weekend—not to instate social distancing or quarantine requirements, like many other governors have done, but to target visitors from New York and New Orleans. DeSantis, a Republican, set up checkpoints on the highway to identify cars from the New York City area and Louisiana, which are suffering intense outbreaks. State troopers will stop these drivers, direct them to self-quarantine, and threaten them with 60 days in jail if they don’t comply.
It’s certainly true that residents of COVID-19 hot spots should not flood other states, though there’s no evidence that a wave of coronavirus refugees are descending upon Florida. But while DeSantis patrols the borders, Florida’s outbreak is already spiraling out of control: As of Monday morning, there were nearly 5,500 COVID-19 cases in the state, and 63 deaths attributed to the disease, a rapid spike from the previous few days. The virus’s exponential growth in Florida indicates that cases are poised to skyrocket. Yet DeSantis is defying public health advice that might slow infections within the state. As he enacted the interstate checkpoints last weekend, Floridians flocked to the many state beaches that remain open. In the absence of statewide leadership, counties have tried to enact their own measures, with mixed results. Neighboring Duval County closed its beaches, but St. John’s County did not, leading residents of the region to swarm its coastline. Beachgoers packed the stretch of sand just south of the county line. Until DeSantis shuts down the state beaches—a move he still firmly resists—residents will continue to congregate, despite public health experts’ warnings that they will exacerbate Florida’s coronavirus outbreak.
Florida’s first coronavirus case was announced on March 1. Since then, the virus has been permitted to spread nearly unchecked. As other governors shut down nonessential businesses, DeSantis allowed beaches, bars, restaurants, and amusement parks to remain open for weeks at the height of colleges’ spring break season. Inevitably, spring breakers contracted the virus and spread it throughout the state weeks ago. Despite DeSantis’ fixation on out-of-state visitors, the vast majority of Florida’s coronavirus patients are residents of the state who likely contracted the virus from other residents through community spread. DeSantis cannot resolve this crisis by vilifying tourists. The infections are coming from inside the state.
DeSantis has also promoted misinformation about COVID-19, falsely contradicting Anthony Fauci’s assertion that the state was experiencing community spread. And he still resists any kind of statewide shutdown, insisting that he “cannot lock down our society with no end in sight,” echoing Trump’s claim that “we can’t have the cure be worse than the problem.” On Monday, the governor finally signed a toothless order that advises residents of southeast Florida, the hardest-hit region, to stay inside. But the “safer at home” order, which merely urges residents to stay inside, appears to be weaker than the “shelter in place” order that members of Congress requested. Local officials like state Sen. José Javier Rodríguez, a Democrat, have also denounced its limited scope, saying a “patchwork approach will not cut it.”
Read more: https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2020/03/ron-desantis-coronavirus-florida-new-york-trump.html
My heart truly goes out to Floridians. The situation there has been steadily building for weeks into what is clearly a very scary situation. How much more pressure can DeSantis take before he backs down? My prediction is not much.
Governor Ducey finally backed down. I don't think DeSantis will be far behind.
17 replies
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So, you’re saying someone had sex with that wretched asshole? 
but she did have a baby Hahahahahah 
live in Gainesville and my nephew and his girlfriend in St Petersburg.
And, to all Floridians!
