Haley Brown
After Gov. Ron DeSantis’ denial that Florida requested COVID-19 supplies prompted a back and forth with the White House, DeSantis said Wednesday his denial wasn’t inaccurate, rather the way the reporter asked the question caused confusion.
A reporter asked DeSantis Tuesday about a request from Florida’s Division of Emergency Management to the federal government for “respirators.” DeSantis said he hadn’t heard anything about that. And the Governor was right, because the request from Florida was for 300 ventilators.
“I was asked about respirators, which are actually different. And so, we’ve never really had any hospitals ask about it,” DeSantis clarified speaking to reporters at a press conference in Jacksonville Thursday.
According to Merriam-Webster dictionary, a ventilator is a “device used to maintain artificial breathing or circulate fresh air,” while a respirator is “a mask used to protect the wearer from particulates in the air.”
“The mechanical ventilators, we’ve been giving those out the whole time,” DeSantis said Thursday.
The reporter’s interchange of the word ventilator with respirator is a common one.
“Historically, respirator has been confused with ventilator often enough that it has a secondary definition similar to that of ventilator,” reads an entry in Merriam-Webster.
But DeSantis, pragmatic as ever, indicated he was not aware of the colloquial interchange of the two words, which led to the confusion. The White House piled onto that confusion Wednesday when White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki, responding to a reporter’s question, implied DeSantis was opposed to receiving ventilators, a charge his press secretary, Christina Pushaw, denied.
“As a policy, we don’t send ventilators to states without their interests in receiving the ventilators,” Psaki said. “I think the most important question here is, why would you oppose receiving ventilators when you clearly need those in your state given the percentage of hospitalizations that are occurring?”
Pushaw also denied an immediate need for the ventilators. She said in a written statement the request for the lifesaving devices was “just in case,” and Florida does not currently have a shortage of ventilators.
Media coverage swarmed over the request for ventilators, because it indicated Florida’s COVID-19 wave could get worse even as DeSantis claims it’s getting better. A pair of UF scientists recently released a model that projects it will be about two weeks before Florida’s current surge peaks.
Florida’s COVID-19 hospitalizations were continuing to peak as of the latest available data Wednesday, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Hospitals recorded an all-time high since the pandemic began with 15,071 people hospitalized for COVID-19 across the state.
When DeSantis originally denied Florida requested respirators, he said Florida has been stockpiling COVID-19 resources.
“We have a lot of stuff that we stockpiled over the last year and a half through the department of emergency management,” he said.
32 comments
Tom
August 12, 2021 at 1:01 pm
Yes, words matter especially for journalists so called when they ask questions.
Just like when CDC peddled misinformation with WH on Covid infections over the error doubled amount. FDOH had to correct Fraud & CDC. What a joke. It was to late though for days of false reporting. Lots of apologies we heard, right.
Florida politics in the past 19 has gone frenetic.
willy boy
August 12, 2021 at 1:16 pm
Its all a hoax , right TOM. You clearly don’t have a lot of science background. I think I trust Florida’s covid numbers about as much as I do the chinese.
Jack Kessler
August 23, 2021 at 1:15 pm
You are absolutely right. Absolutely do not take the vaccine. Make sure none of your friends and relatives take it either. Since it won’t work, there is no reason to go the hospital if you feel sick. It’s probably just a cold. Those hospital idiots are the same people saying you should take the vaccine. Just because they are doctors and nurses doesn’t mean they know more than you. You have rights. 🙂
PeterH
August 23, 2021 at 1:22 pm
Not just rights! Like Ron DeSantis and Donald Trump have stated “YOU HAVE FREEDUMBS”
🤒
tjb
August 12, 2021 at 1:19 pm
The false reporting on this site usually comes from you, Tom.
tjb
August 12, 2021 at 1:49 pm
Tom,
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 / ventilators.
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-
Matthew Lusk
August 12, 2021 at 3:27 pm
The fraud in reporting comes at point A, not B,C,D,or E.
PeterH
August 12, 2021 at 2:22 pm
The White House has asked Ron DeSantis to at least get out of the way if he is incapable of competent leadership. This is the first indicator that Washington isn’t going to delay waiting for Ron DeSantis to act. Washington is working around our Governor.
DeSantis should be laser focused on hospital staffing.
Weary doctors, nurses and hospital staff are tired of his unscientific approach to Covid. Hospital staff are walking off the job in Arkansas…… they might start walking off the job here in Florida.
Tom
August 13, 2021 at 6:18 pm
Just like they were using baggies in ER wards, New York City, LMAO.
U fake newsies are to fake
chris
August 13, 2021 at 8:22 pm
*too
*You
Tom
August 12, 2021 at 2:43 pm
The whole country had lost souls moron.
Other states more.
Go get new marching orders you bot.
No one said they have not.
What about the fake cdc reporting with fraud fried. Not a mistake. Also, the puppet reporter on behalf of WH as plant question.
Manchurian central today.
Cuomo, Cuomo, Cuomo.
Anyone who claims they are conservative and votes counter is a fraud like Nikki.
Tom
August 12, 2021 at 3:18 pm
You all are idiots.
CDC gave false reported Florida numbers On infections over the weekend for Manchurian bots like yourselves.
Fact. They nearly doubled them. FDOH called them out. The fraudster of course reported them. My goodness what a bunch of garbage you all pedal. Wily you are an idiot, no one said Covid is a hoax but you, dumb ass. But the Dems do support China, Swawell bang bang, fang fang. LMAO. Fake news you all are.
Tjb
August 13, 2021 at 9:26 am
Florida Department of Health gave incorrect numbers for the number of Floridians vaccinated for Covid-19 this week. This Department falls under DeSantis ‘s authority. Should DeSantis call them out?
father gabriel
August 12, 2021 at 4:40 pm
VENTILATORS VACCINATION VOTOES are discussed in Playwright Dr Larry Myers
“AMBIDEXTERITY
in NYC
Playwrights Sanctuary
Tom Palmer
August 12, 2021 at 7:08 pm
It seems the only idiots are the Amerika’s Governor worshippers
Tom
August 12, 2021 at 10:59 pm
Your a complete fool Palmer,
Mr 45 yrs of disinformation reporter.
How are all your corrupt Dem Govs doing? Cuomo, Newsom, Whitmer & black face Northam. Did you see that CDC and Fraud gave fake 30% Increase numbers on infections. Doesn’t that bother you Ron burgundy? You, your Govs and your WH and party are liars. Tjb, Alex, Al, Hoffmann, and other manchurians are losers, liars.
Tom
August 13, 2021 at 7:38 am
Your a complete idiot Palmer.
Mr 45 years of liberal lies as a hack reporter.
Coastridet711
August 12, 2021 at 8:24 pm
People are dying and you are piddling over words. Some folks would rather ARGUE than protect Americans. Republicans never offer any plan(remember the health care plan coming in two weeks…four years and NOTHING. Let’s get the virus solved. All the mask deniers need to attend school with the little Petrie dishes…bet you won’t…
Tom
August 12, 2021 at 11:12 pm
Another idiot.
Bram
August 13, 2021 at 4:13 pm
Who are you talking about?
Tom
August 12, 2021 at 11:10 pm
Another Manchurian bot.
Yes what’s this administration doing?
What have they offered besides belittling people. Oh, have they produced a vaccine, no.
There CDC ldirector has meltdowns, they’ve lied on Covid infections in Florida. Fauci openly mislead the public and does not share facts
openly, just pontificates. POTUS, V POTUS told everybody they didn’t trust the virus cause 45 was POTUS. Do you naive Dum Manchurians realize this POTUS had not named a FDA Director. Really? 6 months in. Over 100,000,000 shots in arms and FDA had not approved the vaccines in non emergency.
Repeat not approved. You all are pathetic. Go read about the corrupt Dem Govs.
Bram
August 13, 2021 at 4:10 pm
Golly Tom, you sure are one crabby guy. You know, you don’t have to be like this. Go back and read all your posts on this thread and take notes. it would be like a football player watching videos of his last game to see how he can improve. It could really help out with your online image… unless irritable and cantankerous is what you’re striving for.
Tom
August 13, 2021 at 4:33 pm
Coming from you the negative hater bot. Really, don’t worry bout me pal. You and Manchurians are the haters.
Just collect your awful Dem Govs and all the rest of your group. Really, the filth and hate that is expressed towards this good and decent family man and his family, he who defends every ones liberty and freedom, even yours and the associated haters. You obviously are naive as that was a set up question. You and your bots are fortunate to have me, I’ll educate all of you in the liberal cocoon. Get up early and stay up late. You have a lot of nerve critiquing the one of the few voices compared to the awful hate, vile espoused by so many of the haters. Really ? Death Santis and killing, slaughtering, so many vile words.
Cuomo fondled 13 we know of, collected, earned $5 million on Covid, and ordered 15,000 to seniors back to nursing homes And they died. DeSantis saved seniors. People fled to Florida from north east. You and your tards attack DeSantis, America’s Gov cause he won’t lock down. Shameful. Toughen up pal.
Save it pal.
Yourfriendintime
August 13, 2021 at 4:27 pm
Oh wow, I think we found the Mr, Big Dick/Brainiac with his machismo and intelligence oozing out of his every word. Tom, get bent and go pound sand.
Tom
August 13, 2021 at 6:19 pm
Up your ying yang.
Loser
Tom
August 13, 2021 at 6:17 am
Oh yeah that’s right mr 45 yrs of liberal lies, Palmer the Dums fake news reporter. LMAO
Miller Thomas
August 13, 2021 at 12:31 pm
Needing ventilators is more serious than needing respirators. DeSantis is not helping matters with his arbitrary directives.
Tom
August 13, 2021 at 4:37 pm
Ignorant and stupid is a unique combo. You win!
Mr dumb ass. Just another degenerate tard.
Tom
August 13, 2021 at 4:41 pm
Ignorant and stupid is a unique combo. You win!
Tom
August 13, 2021 at 4:44 pm
Ignorant and stupid is a unique combo. You win!
Here you go Bram. Vile to the tee.
Db
August 14, 2021 at 12:37 pm
The comments here are so disjointed, misspelled, and with such poor English, that they make little, if any, clarity in what they are trying to say. If you left out the taunting, you might make some sense. Both sides need to learn to listen to what is being said & done, or you’re both just spinning your wheels.
Love Florida Hate DeathSantis
August 14, 2021 at 4:18 pm
Semantics, and in the scheme of the situation he has and continues to create both devices will be necessary. He’s a snake and a murderer.
Comments are closed.