Florida Definitely Goes VIral, Con't

GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis has lifted all COVID-19 restrictions and has declared the pandemic "over" in the state of Florida, saying "We are no longer in a state of emergency".

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed an executive order Monday that immediately suspends all outstanding local Covid-19 emergency orders and related public health restrictions.

“The fact is, we are no longer in a state of emergency,” DeSantis said during a news conference. He acknowledged that Florida was still not done with its fight against the coronavirus but reiterated the nation’s decline in Covid-19 cases and deaths.

“I think that’s the evidence-based thing to do,” DeSantis said, adding that asking vaccinated individuals to continue to wear masks would undermine confidence in the coronavirus vaccines.

Private businesses can still require masks and enforce social distancing and other protective measures.

DeSantis signed a bill Monday that codifies the executive order into law, effective July 1. The executive order, he said, was designed to “bridge the gap” until then. The measure, which effectively ends all local pandemic-related restrictions, also bans vaccine passports.

 

So no more COVID health measures, local, state or otherwise.  We're back to "suggestions" that everyone is free to ignore and that the vast majority will do so. And this is an absolute recipe for disaster:

 

Florida has reported the third-most Covid-19 cases in the U.S. at more than 2.2 million since the beginning of the pandemic and the fourth-highest death toll at more than 35,000 fatalities, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. Average new cases there, however, have fallen by more than 13% over the last week, dropping to 4,885 as of Sunday, according to the data.

 

And by July 4th, expect to see an "unexpected" spike in new cases. Biden will be blamed of course. We'll be right back to where we were this time last year, with red states refusing new restrictions and a big summer swell in cases and deaths.

As I said earlier, get used to the new normal.