A.G. Gancarski
Gov. Ron DeSantis ditched his principal mode of communication through this corona-crisis from the usual podium-style press conference to a YouTube video distilling top-line talking points.
The Governor focused exclusively on the mechanics of crisis management.
“The data suggests we are flattening the curve,” DeSantis said in the video.
The Governor highlighted recent efforts to stem the coronavirus tide, including National Guard strike forces at long-term care facilities, such as rehab centers and retirement homes, to check up on potentially symptomatic seniors.
DeSantis said Florida was “one of the first states to suspend visitation” at those centers.
The Governor did not address where cases of COVID-19 may be in those facilities, a recurrent question from media. Instead, he noted that the Florida Department of Health “immediately sends a rapid emergency support team to ensure residents are safe.”
The strike teams, DeSantis said, will “ramp up testing to a whole new level.”
“Florida will do everything it can to protect our seniors,” DeSantis said.
The Governor also focused on formerly-federal testing sites being opened up to all symptomatic patients now, serving Miami-Dade, Orange, and Duval counties.
DeSantis described how Florida pulled off “the biggest logistics mission in the history of the state.”
He gave distribution numbers on masks, gloves, shoe covers, face shields, hand sanitizer, goggles, and coveralls.
Hospital beds, DeSantis said, are still above 40% availability, “a significant amount under any circumstances.”
The Governor has been pilloried in national media for crisis response anomalies, including a seemingly politically-driven decision to let President Donald Trump ally Linda McMahon‘s WWE hold a taping in Orlando Monday, suggesting that professional wrestlers were “essential personnel.”
His previous press conferences have been marked by headline-grabbing comments including recently speculating that gyms should re-open because COVID-19 disproportionately targets the obese.
He also recently misspoke, claiming no one in the nation under the age of 25 has died from the novel coronavirus (they have) and then later clarifying he meant in Florida.
In another now-infamous moment, DeSantis took to a microphone wearing a glove on just one hand, touching his face with the ungloved hand, a practice strongly discouraged by health officials. At one point, he clasped his hands together, negating the purpose of wearing gloves.
Here is the DeSantis video:
4 comments
Amy Roberts
April 15, 2020 at 11:33 am
You Tube vs press briefing, he doesn’t want to be asked questions. I have no trust in the numbers and that we are flattening the curve. In his quest to stay in The President’s favor he is attempting to open the State and risk Floridians’ lives. Is he working with other governors from surrounding states? Does he have a solid plan that has stages of reopening? Starting with WWE and even suggesting opening gyms is ridiculous and shows no discussion or planning with experts in fighting Covid-19.
Frankie M.
April 15, 2020 at 1:43 pm
The day I want Ronnie DeSantis and Ashley Moody doing my thinking for me is the day I’ll have a tag on my toe. We all know how Ronnie is going to “interpret” the data. If I want to know what he’s thinking I’ll just tune into one of his boss’ pep rallies. This is the same guy that said kids don’t die from Covid. When he got called on it by the national press he moved the goalposts to cover up his ignorance. Sound familiar? Where have I seen that playbook before??
AG, can you ask Lenny is he’s gonna campaign as hard for the educational sales tax referendum as he did for his pension tax a few years ago? Can we expect him to be out giving speeches and elbow bumps in support or is he gonna sit on his hands like he did last year and let others do his dirty work for him? Just curious.
Marlene
April 15, 2020 at 6:17 pm
Amen! But careful, guys, cause any minute a couple of trolls are going to call you “shills” for expressing your opinions. They claim to be Constitutional Defenders, but somehow think they’re the only ones who can exercise their First Amendment rights.
BlueHeron
April 16, 2020 at 9:50 pm
Always talking, talking, talking. Never saying anything coherant or even helpful. Crisis Management? Incompetent, causes more problems than are solveed. Totally clueless and not a stable genius. And, of course, not taking responsibility for anything.
His mentor must think he’s coming along nicely. DeSantis is a good student.
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