Florida’s governor called out the “ridiculous” nature of “COVID theater” when there were those standing behind him with a mask on ahead of his press conference on Wednesday.
QUICK FACTS:
- Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) had a stern retort when he addressed the “ridiculous” nature of “COVID theater,” due to those wearing masks behind him.
- The governor made his comments ahead of a press conference at the University of South Florida on Wednesday, according to Breitbart News.
- DeSantis held the conference to announce the state’s investment in cybersecurity workforce education, but was seen before the conference talking to those behind him who were wearing masks.
- DeSantis can be heard saying to the group, “We’ve got to stop with this COVID theater. If you want to wear it, it’s fine, but this is ridiculous.”
- At least four of those in the background removed their masks and were reportedly smiling as the press conference kicked off.
DESNATIS’ RECENT STATEMENTS ON MASKING:
- “Force-masking employees for the appearance of safety is not a sufficient justification. COVID theater has no place in Florida,” he said over the weekend in a video alongside Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo,
- The pair also discussed Florida’s new coronavirus guidance, which “advises against wearing face coverings in a community setting” and states that Floridians “should not be forced to wear a mask at work.
- “People want to live freely in Florida, without corporate masking creating a two-tier society and without overbearing isolation for children,” DeSantis said. “We are empowering health care practitioners to follow science, not Fauci’s status quo.”
BACKGROUND:
- DeSantis has been pushing back against corporate requirements to mask, according to CBS Global Tampa, attempting to allow Floridians to break away from unnecessary COVID-19 mandates.
- As far back as September, Florida was banning mask mandates, according to The New York Post.
