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appalachiablue

(41,052 posts)
Thu Oct 22, 2020, 09:29 PM Oct 2020

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-19—and the day isn’t over yet. The number is higher than anything the state has posted since the first half of August, but it reflects a fresh surge that’s 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. It’s already reached the No. 3 spot in total cases. And it’s by far the largest state when it comes to the top 10 in cases per population.

What’s a Donald Trump-loving, science-hating Republican governor to do? Well, Ron DeSantis has already been trying to follow Trump’s 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 isn’t going to do any of that. Because he’s come up with an alternative: He’s going to stop reporting the numbers.

As WFLA 8 reports, DeSantis says it’s time to “scale back the report frequency.” He’s promising that the data will still be collected. It just won’t be … visible. If daily data is too much for people to stand, just how often would DeSantis share what’s happening in his state? He doesn’t say.

Epidemiologists warned that not having numbers from Florida would mean losing visibility of the epidemic in one of the nation’s 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 state’s 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
He's Republican through and through world wide wally Oct 2020 #1
Really, poster child. FL needs to get it together appalachiablue Oct 2020 #2
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