Nikki Fried unveils new statewide initiative to combat COVID-19

Agricultural Commissioner Nikki Fried unveiled a new consumer awareness campaign Monday designed to encourage Floridians to do their part against the COVID-19 pandemic.

The awareness campaign, coined Be Smart Florida, will launch Monday afternoon and play on radio airwaves, social media and digital platforms. It will feature high-profile figures such as congress members and professional athletes from the Miami Heat and the Miami Dolphins.

“We’ve never needed to be more united than right now, yet we’re divided by simple actions like wearing a mask and keeping our distance,” Fried said.  “To reopen our state and economy safely, we must all be in this together and together we must all d0 the small things that make a big difference in slowing the spread of COVID-19.”

SMART is an acronym for social distance, mask up, avoid crowds, remember to wash hands and throw away disposable items such as gloves and masks.

Fried described the initiative as a non-partisan, research-based effort to encourage all Floridians to take “small actions with proven results”  that are rooted in “science-based measures.”

We've got to be all in this together to beat #COVID19. That's why I'm asking you to Be SMART Florida:

☑Social distance, Mask up, Avoid crowds, Remember to wash hands, Throw away disposable masks, gloves, and wipes.

Share our new consumer awareness campaign — let's #BeSMARTFL! pic.twitter.com/wuV3nPWQjB

— Commissioner Nikki Fried (@NikkiFriedFL) August 3, 2020

“As Florida’s consumer protection agency, we take seriously the responsibility to help Florida’s people, businesses, essential workers, and economy be safe,” Fried said. “I’m hopeful that by working together, we’ll all do our part to beat COVID-19 – so let’s be SMART, Florida!”

Notably, Fried’s announcement comes days after Gov. Ron DeSantis reintroduced his COVID-19 state guidelines and recovery plans, such as reopening schools, under the banner of ‘One Goal, One Florida.’

One Goal, One Florida hits upon the same precautionary measures as before — protecting the vulnerable, practicing good hygiene, social distancing and wearing masks — but features a more patriotic and unifying theme.

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Fried and the Governor have publicly clashed against one another over the state’s COVID-19 response.

At the press conference, she reiterated her calls for a statewide mask mandate and a slow down of the state’s reopening process, citing the latest COVID-19 numbers.

As of Monday, state health officials confirmed 4,752 COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, the fewest in a day in more than a month.