Gov. Ron DeSantis' statements about Florida's COVID death rate get renewed scrutiny

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Multiple times during the COVID-19 pandemic, Gov. Ron DeSantis has pointed to a positive, but still tragic, metric: Florida’s death rate, which was long better than the national average. It was part of a message that the state under his leadership was faring better than most.

Now, the delta-fueled surge in COVID cases has significantly increased Florida’s death rate. And the governor’s past comments are drawing new attention.

Florida is the first U.S. state in which daily deaths in the current wave have exceeded deaths in previous waves, according to Dr. S. Vincent Rajkumar, a professor at the Mayo Clinic. Since the beginning of the pandemic, 43,979 people have died from COVID.

Citing a report at the end of the week about more Florida hospitals using rented coolers for morgue space, Rajkumar wrote on Twitter that “This is how you know what’s happening in Florida is a crisis.” Broward Health Medical Center in Fort Lauderdale acknowledged on Aug. 21 that it is one of those hospitals.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/gov-ron-desantis-statements-about-floridas-covid-death-rate-get-renewed-scrutiny/ar-AANQCMp

[drray23]

1. I would not be surprised to discover

that Florida cooked the books. The situation is probably even worse. After all when a health official tried to warn us a few months ago she was fired and De Santis send law enforcement after her.

[dewsgirl]

7. I have thought this since day one.

[paleotn]

8. I've thought the same about a number of red states.

They have ample incentive to cook their numbers. Actual infection rates and death toll may be significantly higher than what's reported.

[ananda]

2. This is precious since FL has been fudging its numbers for a good while.

I'm tired of this.

[left-of-center2012]

3. Several months ago de Santis held a news conference

In which he said "We have beat covid !"

[ProfessorGAC]

4. Cases At An All Time High Too

7 day moving average is nearly 22,000.
It was never that high before.
Deaths in the first wave, admittedly heavily impacted by elderly deaths, is comparable to the current events.
Thing is, their deaths per 1,000 cases is huge in this wave compared to just around anywhere else. At one recent point, they had 8.5 daily deaths per 1,000 daily cases. The US as a whole is around 6.5, and that includes Florida.
So, the number is over 2 deaths per 1,000 cases than the rest of the US.
Might be worse as other hotspot states might be skewing the average.

[Kid Berwyn]

5. Murder I

A solid case can be made against De Santis.

[IcyPeas]

6. and there will be no consequences for these governors who have no doubt killed people

[Fritz Walter]

11. And THAT'S why we need a thorough, impartial investigation

As much as I'd like for it to conclude with a state-level prosecution against these mass-murderers, that not likely to happen here in FloriDUH. This is why there needs to be a more nationwide (global?) prosecution.

These are crimes against humanity!

Just on the basis of the numbers of fatalities, there MUST be some accountability! moRon DeathSentence must face the consequences of his actions -- or more precisely, inactions -- measured by morbidity and mortality. NOT by his tightly-controlled (and therefore inaccurate) published numbers.

If such an investigation would be conducted by a totally-impartial third-party, the results should be a very long imprisonment, or worse. Why the hell not? Through his inactions, HE sentenced thousands of innocent people to suffer and die needlessly. Now, that's likely to include thousands of school-age children. How much more shameful must this be before there are consequences?!?

Act now. Because the death-toll will continue to rise.

[lpbk2713]

9. No doubt in my mind ...

DeSantis took lying lessons from Trump.

[Mr.Bill]

10. Lying has been the republican playbook

since Nixon.

[RetiredRNIowa]

12. Childrens Hospital Association

Children's Hospital Association
Today, @nytimes
and @latimes
featured our message to all Americans. It’s urgent that we take the scientifically proven measures to protect our children:
- Get vaccinated. 💉
- Wear masks, especially in schools. 😷
- Social distance and wash hands.

[link:https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1431977703830396929|