As Gov. Ron DeSantis resists calls from Florida Democrats to issue a statewide mask mandate amid the growing number of coronavirus cases, the hashtag #DeSantisResign has become a trending topic on Twitter.
The 13 Democratic members of Florida’s congressional delegation wrote a letter to the Republican governor on Wednesday, asking him to “implement an immediate statewide mask order” for people in public places.
The state with the second-highest number of residents over age 65 (nearly 4.5 million) is now edging toward exponential growth in coronavirus cases.
This is a disaster in the making.
Florida, your leaders have failed you. #DeSantisResign #DumpTrump2020 #DemCastFL pic.twitter.com/qjL8jyz36O
— Nick Knudsen 🇺🇸 (@DemWrite) June 25, 2020
“Requiring that Floridians wear masks in public is an essential part of this accountability because people are more likely to become infected when others choose not to be responsible and wear masks,” U.S. Reps. Alcee Hastings and Lois Frankel, along with the 11 other Florida Democrats in Congress, wrote in their joint letter to DeSantis.
Remember when DeSantis said back in March “ hey.. it’s not like we’re gonna be like New York and have 4,000 deaths”. ??? pic.twitter.com/GPozBin7o9
— Cathy (@CathyNotToday) June 25, 2020
The scariest thing about this data is that, unlike New York, we won't have a leader that'll take a stand against COVID-19. History will not look down on you nicely, Ron. #DeSantisResign #DeSantisFailedFlorida pic.twitter.com/xqjglTDuBx
— Robbie (@Robin_urlove) June 24, 2020
Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, the lone Democrat who is on the governor’s Cabinet, has joined her fellow Democrats in pushing DeSantis to require that all Floridians wear masks.
“This is common sense, violates no one’s liberties and follows the lead of 18 other states like North Carolina, Kentucky and New York,” Fried said Thursday in a statement. “If we’re to beat this virus together, we must all act together, with all Floridians doing their part.”
Palm Beach County on Thursday joined Miami-Dade and Broward counties in requiring masks.
Good morning to everyone except @GovRonDeSantis–until he makes a statewide mask mandate. If not then #DeSantisResign
— David Holden (@holden4florida) June 25, 2020
DeSantis has repeatedly stated that he does not believe a statewide order is necessary.
He said during a news conference Tuesday in Orlando, “You catch more flies with honey than vinegar.”
Instead, the governor is encouraging communities to develop their own regulations regarding masks.
“The outbreak is not uniform,” he said.
The Florida Department of Health reported 5,004 new cases Thursday, bringing the state’s total to 109,430 confirmed cases among residents.