Jason Delgado
Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday said mandating athletes to wear face coverings during athletic competition is not only unsafe, it’s “totally, totally overboard.”
After promoting monoclonal antibodies and criticizing school mask mandates at a press conference in Hudson, the Republican Governor shifted his ire to mask requirements for athletes at athletic events.
“That is not based on any type of science,” DeSantis said. “That is totally, totally overboard.”
DeSantis, who is often criticized for forgoing the advice of health experts, warned the mandates clash against traditional medical guidance.
“To restrict athletes breathing (during) heavy competition, where are you getting that?” DeSantis quipped. “The World Health Organization has always said: Do not wear a mask while you’re engaging in physical activity or athletic competition.”
Indeed, the World Health Organization in June discouraged mask wearing during “vigorous intensity physical activity.”
Instead, the United Nations agency highlighted good ventilation and physical distance as the most important preventative measure during exercise.
“Some of this stuff is just… I think it’s more political,” DeSantis said.
Several cities and states across the nation have enacted mask mandates that include athletes competing in competition, according to reports.
New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham in August issued a statewide mask mandate that includes athletes competing indoors regardless of vaccination status, Yahoo! News reported.
Hours north, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services said Thursday it is “safer to wear a mask when participating in contact sports,” MLive reported.
In Tempe, Arizona, meanwhile, a high school district is requiring athletes and coaches to wear masks during indoor practices, AZCentral reported.
Despite ongoing criticism, DeSantis has maintained a give-no-ground approach to mask mandates.
In July, DeSantis empowered the state to impose financial consequences against districts that enact school mask mandates.
The Board of Education voted Tuesday against two school districts that implemented mandatory mask policies.
9 comments
Alex
August 19, 2021 at 3:39 pm
Says the desperate to be President BS artist.
Jerry
August 19, 2021 at 5:25 pm
Certainly would be better than the idiot we got now! Economy is seeing inflation, debt out of control, Afghanistan is a total disaster, the border is wide open and in crisis, and where’s our president? On vacation hiding from reporters questions, looking for ways to enforce more mandates and restrict our freedoms, and encouraging social media to silence any political opposition.
Idiot liberals are talking about making it a “hate crime” to criticize Dr. Fauci and other scientists. Are you people out of your god damn minds!?? What country is this anymore? Are we ruled by the CDC now?
Alex
August 19, 2021 at 5:30 pm
Bwahahahaaha!!
You sound like a Faux talking head with all that crap you spew.
PeterH
August 19, 2021 at 6:23 pm
Trump lost and never again will be president.
Why is DeSantis worrying about athletes in states other than Florida? Do you think he may be playing politics?
jeanette suarez
August 20, 2021 at 11:35 am
Thank you Jerry, well said.
Jmjusa
August 19, 2021 at 3:49 pm
“who is often criticized for forgoing the advice of health experts,”
Can’t you FP jerks ever, once do some reporting without interjecting your own demon-rat opinions?
Tom
August 20, 2021 at 10:09 am
You mean the hostile media Peter.
The pathetic cheap shots, centering this morning about gambling odds.
Really? I don’t wager, but I’ll bet that Governor DeSantis wins re elect pretty comfortably and beside past POTUS 45, has about 40% chance for the nomination 45 does not run. You can also thank the incompetent
Biden team for building him up even greater. Spare us the fake liberal outrage. Go read the Tampa Times, Steve Contorno’s real journalism. Novel thought to ask a actual question for a change. Fraud and Crisp offer nothing at all. On any topic. Spare me.
susan b alcott
August 19, 2021 at 6:50 pm
“HEMINGWAY VOCABULARY
ADDED TO HEALING MoDALITY SOS THEATER POP UPS WITH DR LARRY MYERS
CLIMATE CHANGE CYCLE AND
“AMBIDEXTERITY”
ABOUT COVID VOTES VIGILANCE
Tom
August 20, 2021 at 5:58 pm
Shove it.
Comments are closed.