Politics
Democrats want Ron DeSantis to stop coronavirus reopening efforts across Florida
A group of House Democrats from Florida, including the state’s South Florida delegation, is calling on Gov. Ron DeSantis to stop a phased reopening in most of the state, arguing that Florida doesn’t have a large enough testing capacity to stop the spread of new coronavirus cases.
Ten of the state’s 13 House Democrats signed onto a letter written by Broward Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Ted Deutch along with Palm Beach Rep. Lois Frankel that was sent to DeSantis on Friday. The Democrats said they have “grave concerns” about opening up most of the state. DeSantis has not started reopening measures in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties, which are home to the largest number of COVID-19 cases and deaths.
“Florida is lacking essential tools that public health experts agree are critical to a safe reopening process: widespread testing, a robust contact tracing workforce, and supported isolation are interconnected pieces of the larger puzzle of reopening,” the lawmakers wrote. “Without all pieces in place, it is unacceptable to reopen the state and expose our population to increased risk of infection.”
Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach’s entire delegation, including Reps. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, Donna Shalala, Frederica Wilson, Ted Deutch, Alcee Hastings, Lois Frankel and Wasserman Schultz signed the letter.
The group of lawmakers asked DeSantis to provide a detailed testing plan, an assessment of Florida’s stockpile of personal protective equipment, plans to hire contact tracers and specific steps to ensure social distancing in local businesses along with public spaces like parks under local government jurisdiction. Florida must provide a testing plan to the federal government by May 24 as part of a $25 billion coronavirus funding bill that became law last week.
On Monday, DeSantis gave restaurants and shops outside of South Florida the opportunity to restart their brick-and-mortar businesses in limited ways. The governor has argued his phased reopening approach balances public health needs with economic considerations.
“The way Florida has approached this, even though our hospitalization and infection and fatality rates are much lower than many big states, particularly in the Northeast and Midwest, we did not necessarily ‘shut everything down’ ” in April, DeSantis said during a Fox News appearance on Sunday. “I had construction going, a lot of retail that was going. I actually accelerated road projects because traffic was down. ... We’re starting, I think, a little ahead of where some other states are.”
But Democrats said his decision to exclude Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties from his reopening plan shows how serious the pandemic is across the entire state.
“We are relieved that the three South Florida counties that continue to be at the epicenter of the pandemic in Florida are excluded from the state’s reopening plan,” the lawmakers wrote. “Nevertheless, we know all too well that a virus does not respect borders or county lines, and a reopening in one area does not preclude another area from increased risk. According to data released by the state as recently as Thursday, May 7th, Florida continues to experience a rise in confirmed cases statewide.”
Comments