DeSantis Ignores Face Mask Pleas, Talks Vaccines Instead

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — One day after a group of Florida mayors urged Gov. Ron DeSantis to issue a statewide mask mandate, the governor ignored their requests and made an announcement on Twitter Thursday that coronavirus vaccines could soon be coming to the Sunshine State.

"The State of Florida is prepared to work with the federal government to distribute vaccines to Florida hospitals in the upcoming weeks, as well as new therapeutic treatments for those most vulnerable," DeSantis said in a statement.

According to DeSantis, Eli Lilly has a treatment that has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for emergency use and is already in hospitals across the state.

Administered by an IV, the monoclonal antibody cocktail that takes about an hour to distribute, DeSantis explained. It is meant for people at high risk of severe complications from coronavirus.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reported Nov. 9 that the treatment was approved by the FDA. The monoclonal antibody therapeutic called bamlanivimab received emergency use authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat non-hospitalized patients with mild or moderate confirmed cases of COVID-19.

Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, which would work to prevent people from developing the respiratory disease, are awaiting approval by the FDA. Both companies have reported that the vaccines are 95 percent effective.

"Right now, the best estimate that the federal government has is that by the end of December, pending FDA approval, there will be roughly 40 million doses of these two vaccines available," DeSantis said. "Twenty-five-million for Pfizer and 15 million for Moderna. Each individual requires two doses so that would mean there would be enough vaccines for 20 million Americans by the end of December."

Five hospitals in Florida are able to properly store the Pfizer vaccine, according to DeSantis:

• Tampa General Hospital
• Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami-Dade
• Memorial Healthcare System, Broward
• Advent Health, Orlando
• University of Florida Health Jacksonville

There are 330,601,501 people living in the United States as of Nov. 18, according to the United States Census Bureau. The census showed 21,477,737 people lived in Florida in 2019.

The state's confirmed coronavirus cases exceed 900,000, according to the Florida Department of Health, which reported there were 905,248 as of Thursday. Statewide coronavirus hospitalizations are 52,637 and death totals are 17,949.

Mayors Want More Measures

DeSantis did not respond in his video to the rising number of coronavirus concerns noted Wednesday by five mayors, including leaders from St. Petersburg and Miami.

Mayor Rick Kriseman of St. Petersburg, one of the Florida cities that has a mask mandate, said the governor's orders have "created incredible confusion in our (St. Pete) community, not just with the business community but with the governments in our county."

Before the governor gave the Phase 3 order, Kriseman said his city and county saw average weekly positivity rates of 2.5 and 3.5 percent. The current two-week average is 6.6 percent, he said.

Kriseman was not the only one who disputed the efficacy of the governor's orders.

"What Florida is doing right now isn't working," Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber said on the conference call with Florida mayors Wednesday discussing the virus response.

Many people did respond to the governor's vaccine announcement Thursday on Twitter.

"In the meantime, people are spreading the virus and many people will die," tweeted Lynda Miller of Coral Springs. "Have people wear a mask!!! FL numbers are rising!!

Twitter user with the name Real JanRapp in St. Augustine showed DeSantis support in her tweet: "Thank you, Governor. It’s an honor to be a Floridian and I pray for you as our leader. -a St Augustine historian/tour guide"

Leaders in Key West are making changes after the mayors' pleas to DeSantis. As of Thursday, CNN reported, a tough mask mandate was issued that requires all residents to wear masks anytime they leave their homes or face a $500 fine after given a verbal warning and civil citation for not wearing a mask.

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