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Gov. DeSantis' Solution To Bad Covid Numbers In Florida: Hide The Numbers
Last edited Thu Oct 22, 2020, 10:38 PM - Edit history (1)
- Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis shows Florida voters how to close their eyes and wish Coronavirus away.
'Ron DeSantis has a solution to bad COVID-19 numbers in FL: He's going to hide the numbers.' Daily Kos, Oct. 22, 2020.
On Thursday, Florida reported over 5,500 new cases of COVID-19and the day isnt over yet. The number is higher than anything the state has posted since the first half of August, but it reflects a fresh surge thats keeping the state at an average of around 100 deaths per day and steadily moving it up the Worst States charts. In the next two days, Florida will likely pass New Jersey to take over the No. 4 slot in total deaths. Its already reached the No. 3 spot in total cases. And its by far the largest state when it comes to the top 10 in cases per population.
Whats a Donald Trump-loving, science-hating Republican governor to do? Well, Ron DeSantis has already been trying to follow Trumps advice to do less testing. Florida is currently testing at the lowest rate of any state, with just one test per 1,000 residents. With cases skyrocketing despite the lowest rate of testing in the nation, DeSantis has only one choice: He has to get sensible, order a statewide mask mandate, cut down mass gatherings, and place restrictions on bars and restaurants.
Except DeSantis isnt going to do any of that. Because hes come up with an alternative: Hes going to stop reporting the numbers.
As WFLA 8 reports, DeSantis says its time to scale back the report frequency. Hes promising that the data will still be collected. It just wont be visible. If daily data is too much for people to stand, just how often would DeSantis share whats happening in his state? He doesnt say.
Epidemiologists warned that not having numbers from Florida would mean losing visibility of the epidemic in one of the nations most populous states. That could affect everything from local hospital planning, to restrictions and considerations in other states. Taking Florida off the books would place an enormous hole in the nationwide understanding of what is going on, and open the possibility that the state is becoming an even bigger hotspot while covering up the truth.
This is just another step along the cover-up path for DeSantis. Back in May, he ordered county medical examiners to stop releasing daily reports on deaths. This information had been available since ever, but is no longer visible. Instead, deaths are reported after being massaged by DeSantis team at the state level. That same month, DeSantis also forced analysts to change numbers on the states COVID-19 dashboard. A month later, he fired the data scientist who created that dashboard and cut back on the information being provided.
DeSantis updated version of the dashboard removed information on hospital admissions, emergency room admissions, and available ICU beds...
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2020/10/22/1988690/-Ron-DeSantis-has-a-solution-to-bad-COVID-19-numbers-in-Florida-He-s-going-to-hide-the-numbers
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Gov. DeSantis' Solution To Bad Covid Numbers In Florida: Hide The Numbers (Original Post)
appalachiablue
Oct 2020
OP
world wide wally
(21,718 posts)1. He's Republican through and through
appalachiablue
(41,052 posts)2. Really, poster child. FL needs to get it together