PANAMA CITY — Gov. Ron DeSantis brazenly defied President Joe Biden on Wednesday, saying he would “stand in the way” of any federal COVID-19 restrictions that will harm companies or take away Floridians’ rights to decide on.
During a press convention in Panama City, DeSantis responded to a speech Biden made Tuesday calling for the Florida governor to “get out of the way” of folks making an attempt to combat the current surge of COVID-19 circumstances.
The friction between Biden and DeSantis comes as the nation confronts a fourth wave of the virus, one which has hit particularly laborious in Florida.
The state reached a brand new peak Tuesday of 11,515 folks hospitalized with COVID-19, in response to information from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
And 110,477 residents examined optimistic for the COVID-19 virus for the week that ended July 29, foreshadowing extra folks needing hospital care in the weeks forward.
Previously: DeSantis downplays COVID considerations throughout Sarasota, Miami occasions
More: The delta variant is ‘ripping via the unvaccinated’ and crowding hospitals in Florida, Texas
And: Biden administration points focused moratorium on evictions for areas hit hardest by COVID-19
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis makes his level that he would ‘stand in the method’ of any federal COVID-19 restrictions that will harm folks in his state. DeSantis visited Panama City to announce the launch of new cash for hurricane reduction.
“Joe Biden is suggesting if you don’t do lockdown policies, you should quote, ‘get out of the way’ … if you’re coming after the rights of parents in Florida, I’m standing in your way,” DeSantis mentioned on Wednesday earlier than receiving a spherical of applause from residents and native leaders.
DeSantis mentioned he would stand in the method of anybody who tried to disclaim kids an in-person training, impose mandates or harm livelihoods.
“If you’re trying to lock people down, I am standing in your way and I’m standing for the people of Florida,” DeSantis mentioned.
Florida and Texas accounted for one-third of all the COVID-19 circumstances reported final week, in response to the White House. But in contrast to with earlier waves there was little effort at the state or native degree to mitigate the surge in Florida.
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DeSantis shifted the blame for the current spike in COVID-19 circumstances in Florida and different components of the nation on Biden, alleging that many new circumstances have been coming throughout the southern border with Mexico.
DeSantis mentioned as an alternative of shutting the border, Biden needs to have the authorities pressure kindergartners to put on masks in colleges as a solution to management the virus.
“Well, I can tell you that in Florida, the parents are going to be the ones in charge of that,” DeSantis mentioned about sporting masks in colleges.
More: FL college districts insurgent towards governor’s masks order, presenting political take a look at
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis makes his level that he would ‘stand in the method’ of any federal COVID-19 restrictions that will harm folks in his state. DeSantis visited Panama City to announce the launch of new cash for hurricane reduction.
DeSantis didn’t point out that he issued an order Monday that threatens to withhold funding from any college that requires college students to put on masks, successfully eradicating native selections on the concern.
DeSantis additionally defied any suggestion that Florida would go together with vaccine mandates.
“We said from the beginning, we’re going to make it available for all, but we’re not going to mandate it on anybody. It’s ultimately an individual’s choice to be able to do it,” DeSantis mentioned. “So, why don’t you do your job (Biden), why don’t you get that border secure and until you do that, I don’t want to hear a blip about COVID from you.”
Contributing: Zac Anderson, Ken Alltucker.
This article initially appeared on The News Herald: Fla Gov. DeSantis: will ‘stand in the method’ of Biden COVID restrictions
