TALLAHASSEE The Covid crisis in Florida has forced Gov. Ron DeSantis is caught between two opposing forces: anti-vaxxers and public health experts, who want him do more.As the Delta strains of Covid-19 infected Florida and made it a national coronavirus hotspot, the Republican governor has been under fire from both Democrats and the medical community. Overcrowded hospitals, more than 300 deaths and more than 73,000 new infections were recorded in Florida last week. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Florida now hosts one in five new cases in the United States of Covid-19.DeSantis encouraged vaccinations, but he also said vaccines save lives. He is now facing backlash from his anti-vaccination wing. This is the same group that praised DeSantis and helped propel him onto the national stage because of his non-interventionist approach to the virus. With 2024 presidential ambitions, DeSantis must balance keeping his conservative base happy and keeping his state from becoming a more disease-prone area.Do not let political correctness stop you from making healthy choices. This is what former Trump National Security Adviser Michael Flynn stated recently about DeSantis' comments. He spoke on The Right Side with Doug Billings (a conservative radio host and podcaster).Stew Peters, another conservative radio host, called DeSantis a shill last week and suggested that the governor was taking money from bribe-takers. However, he didn't specify who.DeSantis has been a strong advocate for vaccinations as Florida's hospitalizations and infections continue to rise. However, he also rejected any Covid-related lockdowns or mandates for masks being restored. DeSantis is still a vocal advocate for school-based learning and has successfully pushed to stop local governments from imposing pandemic regulations.This strategy helped DeSantis rise up the GOP ranks and allowed him to claim early success. The pandemic in Florida didn't live up to national experts' worst fears, despite spring 2020 photos showing packed spring break parties and concerns about superspreader events. However, as Covid cases continue to rise in the state, DeSanti's big achievement could backfire on him before his 2022 reelection campaign or potential 2024 presidential bid.Continue the storyDeSantis' office dismissed criticisms from conservatives and called a story about Flynn or Peters comments clickbait.Christina Pushaw, DeSantis press Secretary, stated that most conservatives in politics or media don't find Governors statements controversial.Brian Ballard, a well-known Republican lobbyist and DeSantis backer, stated that DeSantis' conservative credentials are unquestionable.Ballard stated that he saw the Flynn comments, and found them outrageous. I don't know what Ron DeSantis means by being conservative if he isn't within the four corners.He said that there is so much misinformation, it's literally insane and can kill people.DeSantis' strategy has also caused some problems for the governor, including local governments and public officials. They appreciate DeSantis provaccination rhetoric, but are still expressing concern about the lack of urgency in tackling the virus.Palm Beach officials announced Monday that they will require all citizens to wear masks on city property and in public buildings regardless of their vaccination status. California's Monday move to require that state and health staffers provide proof of vaccinations will soon lead to this change. DeSantis outlawed such vaccine passports for Florida.Meanwhile, health officials are pressing the governor for more support for frontline health care workers.The city's emergency leaders meet with hospitals every day, and although they are in tune to the emergency and working together to help one another, we have not received the same level of support as when we were in the pandemic.He stated that the state should resume releasing daily Covid-19 test data, which was stopped in January, and declare Florida under a public emergency, which expired on June 26.Nielsen stated that by declaring a public health emergency, activities can be authorized to support essential services and functions. This could be funds for emergency staffing or equipment. It can also activate certain support offices and open up federal support.Pushaw said, however, that calls for a new public health emergency are misguided.Although people are free to express their opinions, some governors critics have a tendency to call for a state of emergency on various issues, without giving any indication as to what such a declaration would accomplish.
