Florida Governor: ‘We’re Not Shutting Down’ After Record Coronavirus Infection Spike

TOPLINE

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said that the state has no plans to roll back its reopening efforts after reporting Tuesday its highest single-day increase in coronavirus cases since the pandemic began, saying that the decision to reopen businesses like restaurants is not the cause of the rise in infections.

KEY FACTS

KEY BACKGROUND

Florida was one of the fastest states to reopen, entering Phase 1 on May 4, and much of the state moved to Phase 2 earlier this month, allowing for bars and restaurants to reopen at 50% capacity. An exception to that reopening was made for some counties in the southern part of the state, which have been hit the hardest. Miami Mayor Francis Suarez said at a news conference Monday the city is not planning to go forward with Phase 2 for the time being.

CHIEF CRITIC

Nikki Fried, the state’s Democratic Commissioner of Agriculture, lambasted the Republican governor’s response to the coronavirus in a statement Tuesday.

“His policies are simply not working, and he’s recklessly reopening Florida despite the data screaming for caution,” she said.

TANGENT

Texas and Arizona also reported single-day new case highs, but unlike Florida, they also reported new highs for hospitalizations.

BIG NUMBER

80,109 — That’s how many coronavirus cases have been confirmed in the state of Florida since the pandemic began, according to its Department of Health.

FURTHER READING

Florida Sets Record For New Coronavirus Cases—Again (Forbes)

Miami pauses reopening as Florida’s new coronavirus cases rise (ABC News)

Florida Bars Are Shutting Down Again After New Positive Coronavirus Cases (Newsweek)