Jason Delgado
Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday described student mask mandates as a “big experiment” with possible health and developmental consequences on youth.
Speaking to reporters in Surfside, DeSantis criticized the “big experiment” and defended his decision to block mask mandates on school grounds.
“A lot of parents have come to me … and said this has been very difficult on their young kids,” DeSantis told reporters in Surfside. “To have them sit there for eight hours with this is not natural.”
Among his reasons, DeSantis said the impacts of long-term mask wearing are unknown.
He criticized the National Institutes of Health, suggesting the federal agency should explore the consequences of COVID-19 mitigation efforts.
“It’s never been studied what the effects of that are,” DeSantis said of prolonged mask-wearing. “The NIH has a $42 billion budget. They’ve not spent a single penny since COVID started studying how these mitigations affect kids.”
Issued last month, DeSantis’ executive order empowers the Department of Education to “pursue all legal means available” to combat student mask mandates. The state, among other methods, may impose financial consequences against school districts who violate the order.
Speaking Tuesday, DeSantis maintained his order will empower parents as decision-makers.
“It’s about parental choice, not government mandate,” DeSantis said.
Despite the order, some counties, including Leon, are moving forward with public health mandates.
In many cases, school leaders point to the surge of COVID-19 cases as their motive for challenging the order. They assert the delta variant of the virus is more threatening to youth than the earlier strain.
DeSantis, however, challenged that theory.
“You’ve not seen a change in the proportion of the young people who end up being admitted,” DeSantis said of pediatric hospitalizations.
Notably, parents may opt to send their students to schools with COVID-19 protocols matching their preference under an emergency rule approved Friday by the State Board of Education.
Under the rule, students in mask-optional schools could transfer to private schools requiring masks. Alternatively, a parent may transfer their student out of a district with more relaxed policies.
DeSantis touted the flexibility afforded to parents under the rule.
“I think you should have the right to make that ultimate decision,” DeSantis said. “I don’t think government should override that.”
10 comments
Zhombre
August 10, 2021 at 1:27 pm
The Emmy-winning Cuomo, favorite of the corrupt media, has resigned in disgrace; DeSantis remains, and will be re-elected.
Matthew Lusk
August 10, 2021 at 1:33 pm
Masks ARE known to harbor all kinds of fungus, bacteria and pathogens. Plus O2 level is reduced. Try double masking your the air intake on your car and see what happens!
Tom Palmer
August 10, 2021 at 3:57 pm
Based on what exactly ? Some Trumper found a mask in parking and had UF test it.
zhombre
August 10, 2021 at 4:25 pm
https://rationalground.com/dangerous-pathogens-found-on-childrens-face-masks/
Cut and paste the link (if your dexterity and cognition permit)
Sonja Fitch
August 10, 2021 at 1:56 pm
Wtf! Desantis! You are willingly slaughtering Floridians and our children! Lock him Duffus Desantis up! Lock him up for criminal negligence in ignoring the facts and truth for the safety of our children! Stfu Duffus Desantis!
Lee Duffus
August 11, 2021 at 10:53 am
Please spell properly. It’s “doofus.”
Tom
August 10, 2021 at 2:16 pm
No moronRed Sonja, it is you and yours that are doing so .
Cuomo resigned after $5 million book deal and 15,000 seniors dead cause of his policy.
He decimated the state. He fondled a dozen or more.
The next one to go is Calis Gov Newsom. Recall in Sept. as he is Gov lockdown. He’s decimated the State. Don’t forget the Virginia Gov Northam.
Dem women how you like your party now?
America’s Governor, Ron Desantis stands on angels wings compared to this garbage. God Bless him and the family. Gets young leader:
Zhombre
August 10, 2021 at 2:33 pm
Don’t bother. Sonja’s insane.
tjb
August 12, 2021 at 1:46 pm
You call insult Cuomo but who really cares. Just to let you know, Florida has lost over 40,000 souls to Covid. Maybe, it is time to order more coffins when ordering the respirators / ventilator.
Just so that you and DeSantis are not confused by the word coffin:
Merriam-Webster Definition of Coffin
– a box or chest for burying a corpse-
Tom
August 10, 2021 at 3:05 pm
Agreed, great one but as you know the story must be told.
Comments are closed.