Florida official asks Gov DeSantis to declare state of emergency

Source: The Hill | August 17, 2021 | Alexandra Kelley

Agriculture commissioner Nikki Fried said the state needs an influx of resources to combat the rampant virus spread.

On Monday, Florida’s Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services and gubernatorial contender Nikki Fried (D) called on incumbent Governor Ron DeSantis (R) to declare a state of emergency as COVID-19 cases continue to rise ahead of school reopenings. 

Fried is one of the Democratic candidates who have thrown their hat into the ring in the forthcoming 2022 Florida gubernatorial race. 

During a press conference, Fried spoke to  a local high school student about the the refusal to implement  mask mandates in schools by DeSantis and the state government. 

“It is time that we issue a state of emergency. Our hospitals need this, our medical providers, our resources for our locals. It is past time,” Fried said, citing hospitalizations across the state crossing 15,000 and adding that 91 percent of all hospital beds are occupied – half by COVID-19 patients. 

……..

Fried blamed the worsening outbreak on the “irresponsible policies” of DeSantis and state education commissioner Richard Corcoran, who have not implemented a statewide mask mandate for children as they return to in-person schooling. 

“There are federal resources that we can’t access without a state of emergency being declared, like assistance with FEMA and the National Guard,” Fried explained. “There is no excuse not to ask for all the help we can get.”

In a statement sent to The Hill, DeSantis’s office noted that “Governor DeSantis only declares states of emergency if doing so would result in concrete benefits for Floridians that could not be accomplished with available resources. Nikki Fried and other Democratic politicians often call for a ‘state of emergency’ without explaining what, exactly, they believe it would accomplish in terms of public health outcomes.”

……..

Viewing 1 post (of 1 total)
Viewing 1 post (of 1 total)

You must be logged in to reply to this topic.