Statement from Florida Democratic Party Chair on a Record-Breaking Day for New COVID Cases and Hospitalizations

Today Florida recorded 22,783 new COVID-19 cases, the highest single-day figure since the pandemic began. The state also broke its hospitalization record for the fifth consecutive day.

In reaction to these disturbing numbers, Florida Democratic Party Chairman Manny Diaz released the following statement.

“Watching a slow moving catastrophe unfolding with no one to stop it brings on a special sense of dread. It’s a sensation Floridians have grown very familiar with over the past few weeks. Day by day we have seen the explosive growth of new COVID cases and hospitalizations, yet the one person in a position to help steer us away from peril is not only not doing so, he is actually guiding us further and deeper into it.

“As the nation has looked on in disbelief, Governor Ron DeSantis has failed to act to save Floridian lives and insists on aggravating this worsening health crisis. He is stopping local governments, school boards and private businesses from implementing common sense public health measures to slow down the rate of infections. He is blaming immigrants for his failures instead of acknowledging his mistakes. At the end of the day this is nothing more than a bare-faced effort to pander to the radical anti-masking, anti-vaccination, COVID-denialist segment of his party. This is morally reprehensible.

“To see these numbers, coupled with the frightening rise of pediatric COVID hospitalizations in our state just days before many counties begin the school year is worrying enough. To know that our Governor is standing in the way of schools that want to protect the lives of those students and their families, is truly terrifying.

“There is no way around it: we are a state adrift without a leader as we face the greatest public health crisis in recent memory.”