Lawmakers Call On A Silent DeSantis To Tell Public What’s Going On: A New COVID Strain In Fla., Could Wreak Havoc

Press release from the Florida Phoenix:

By Issac Morgan

January 19, 2021

With Florida leading the nation in the new COVID-19 strain that first appeared in the United Kingdom, and is more transmissible, state lawmakers are calling on Gov. Ron DeSantis and health officials to provide information on cases to the public and issue stricter safety measures to curb the spread.

As of Tuesday, Florida had reported 46 of the so-called B.1.1.7 variant cases — more than any other state in the nation — according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC also warned Friday that the new more, transmissible COVID-19 variant could become the dominant strain by March.

That could trigger a surge in cases across the country. California has the second highest new variant cases, with 40.

Still, the Republican governor, the Florida Department of Health and the state Surgeon General Scott Rivkees have not issued communication to the public about the new variant cases through press releases, social media or press conferences. At those events, DeSantis has focused almost solely on COVID-19 vaccine distribution.

State Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith, a Democrat representing part of Orange County, wants Gov. Ron DeSantis to use his executive powers to require facial coverings in the state to curb the spread of the troubling B.1.1.7 strain, as infections are expected to climb.

Smith, who is the state House’s Democratic ranking member of the Professions & Public Health Subcommittee, said in an email to the Florida Phoenix, “this aggressive new strain necessitates quick action to protect the lives and livelihoods of Floridians.”

“With Florida in full pandemic resurgence while also representing a majority of the nation’s new COVID variant cases, it is imperative Governor DeSantis immediately issue a mask mandate and other mitigation measures to protect the public,” Smith said.

Unlike other affected states reporting information about the new COVID-19 strain, Florida officials have remained silent on the issue for at least two weeks, without disclosing details such as which counties have variant cases, as well as info about gender and ages related to the cases.

State Rep. Anna Eskamani, an Orlando Democrat, said in a text message to the Phoenix that the state health department lacks transparency on cases of the new strain.

“Once again, the lack of data transparency from Florida’s Department of Health sows doubt and makes it much harder for us to keep one another safe and emphasize the best COVID-19 safety standards,” Eskamani, who is a member of the state House’s Professions & Public Health Subcommittee.

“You would think that almost after a year of going through life with a global pandemic the Department of Health would understand how important access to data is.”

And state Sen. Shevrin Jones, a Democrat and member of the Senate’s Health Policy committee, told the Phoenix that the state health department “has shown that they are not experts.”

“How can we ask for transparency to the 21 million Floridians if the department can’t even be up front with 40 senators about numbers?” he said, adding that DeSantis is focused on “vaccine rollouts that have yet to get off the ground.”

The Florida Department of Health tweeted about the first variant case on New Year’s Eve, involving a man in his 20s in Martin County, north of Palm Beach County.

Health officials and lawmakers held a press conference Jan. 2 in Martin County about the variant case, but neither the governor nor the surgeon general participated.

Ever since then, state officials have been mum about the troubling new cases that can spread more easily and make more people ill.

Overall, the CDC has identified 122 of the variant cases in 20 states, up from 15 states this weekend.

This story was originally published by the Florida Phoenix. For more stories from the Florida Phoenix, visit FloridaPhoenix.com.