DeSantis can’t mask reality of new virus threat

No wonder Gov. DeSantis didn’t want Floridians to know what’s in the weekly reports from the White House Coronavirus Task Force.

According to the newest report, the state is in a “full-blown COVID-19 resurgence.” Florida can expect “significant fatalities” from this third wave. The report recommends that Florida do lots more — soon — to protect residents.

It took a lawsuit to force DeSantis to release the reports. You can see why. The latest advice reveals how much he is to blame for the third wave of cases.

In late September, the governor issued an executive order that prohibited cities and counties from enforcing mask mandates. Imagine telling local governments they can’t order evacuations with a Category 4 hurricane approaching.

You can trace Florida’s spike in cases to that date and thus to that decision. The per capita rate is now almost 25 percent higher than the previous high in July.

To defend his hands-off response to the pandemic, DeSantis has tried to shift the debate. When cases have increased, he has talked about how hospitalizations and deaths haven’t risen. Now, however, DeSantis has no place to run. All the metrics are bad.

On Thursday, Florida recorded 222 COVID-related deaths. That was the highest number since August, which for now remains the peak. On Friday, Palm Beach County had a record high in new cases.

And here’s the metric that most undercuts DeSantis’ argument that Florida must go easy on restrictions to protect the economy. For the week of Jan. 9, jobless claims in the state tripled, to their highest level since August.

Ten months into the pandemic, DeSantis still doesn’t understand that economic health depends on public health. Theme parks are taking admirable precautions, but people won’t pack them until the virus is under control. Cruise lines still have no timetable for sailing from domestic ports.

So DeSantis prefers to talk about COVID19 vaccines. He sounds like the arsonist trying to reassure people because the fire engines are on the way.

Yes, the vaccines ultimately will end the pandemic — if enough people get them. Why, then, does DeSantis say he won’t encourage Floridians to get them?

From the start, DeSantis has prized allegiance to President Trump over allegiance to Floridians. He is the only Republican governor of a large state not to issue a statewide mask mandate. It seems clear that, before the presidential election, the governor doctored the metrics to make the virus looks less threatening here.

Trump won the state, which made the governor look good. But how’s that working out for the rest of us?

Last week, Florida Emergency Management Director Jared Moskowitz told a legislative committee that the White House allowed most of the state’s COVID19 vaccines to go unused for weeks. “More people,” Moskowitz said, “are going to get sick and more people are going to die.”

Even the Trump administration’s announcement that it would release more doses of vaccines was just a tease. All those vials will contain second doses. These deliveries won’t mean that more people are vaccinated.

After noon on Wednesday, Donald Trump won’t be president. Perhaps DeSantis then will feel free enough to act on behalf of his constituents, not his political patron.

He could start by being more forthright with information, including about vaccine distribution. According to the News Service of Florida, even top Florida Republicans are saying so.

During a meeting of the Senate Health Policy Committee last week, Sen. Aaron Bean, R-Fernandina Beach, told Florida Surgeon General Scott Rivkees: “If there is an orderly process that is clear and communicated well, most people are patient — they will wait their turn and know that new supplies are coming. And I can wait my turn. But when there’s no information, and there’s no rhyme or reason who’s getting it, that’s the frustration.”

Sen. Ben Albittron, R-Wauchula, asked Rivkees whether it’s “fair to say” that it would take 22 months to get shots into the arms of everyone who agreed to be vaccinated. Rivkees didn’t directly answer, the News Service reported.

“When we’re looking at talking to people back home, being realistic with them matters. Because if not, they’re not going to believe us the next time,” Albritton saod. “A million doses a month, 22 million people, that’s a maximum of 22 months. And the hope is additional inflow reduces that timeline. Is that fair to say?” Again, Rivkees avoided answering the question.

DeSantis shows up regularly at Publix supermarkets to promote the availability of the vaccine to seniors age 65 and over. On Tuesday alone, he visited stores in Jupiter, Cape Coral and Rockledge. The governor talks as if there are plenty of vaccines for everybody, but there’s not.

Florida is losing this arms race badly. As of last week, the state had received 1.7 million doses of the vaccine and administered about 700,000 shots. About 61,000 people had received both required doses. Democrats in the state Senate on Tuesday voiced outrage at DeSantis’ rah-rah strategy of hyping the partnership with Publix supermarkets. “Smoke and mirrors,” said Sen. Janet Cruz, D-Tampa.

Equally important, DeSantis could rescind the September order and allow local governments to protect public health. This month, the Delray Beach City Commission sent such a request in a letter to the governor. Public health experts regularly criticize the maskless crowds packed into nightspots on East Atlantic Avenue in Delray Beach.

Unfortunately, the early signs are not good. When the legislative session begins in March, the priority will be cutting next year’s budget because of COVID-19-related revenue shortages. The state also should fix the unemployment benefits system that crashed last March.

Apparently, though, DeSantis doesn’t intend to meet Florida’s moment. During a speech before a conservative crowd in Texas last week, he said his top legislative priority this year was to prevent the online censorship of conservatives.

DeSantis wants Florida to punish social media companies for supposed anti-conservative bias, though the state doesn’t regulate those companies. He also wants to pass anti-rioting legislation aimed at those protesting racial bias in the criminal justice system and our nation’s history. DeSantis now says the legislation is aimed at the Capitol insurrectionists.

If this is the governor trying to fend off a primary next year and/or auditioning for a 2024 presidential campaign, spare us.

Florida already ranks just 25th in the rate of COVID-19 deaths because of DeSantis’ inaction. Every warning light — notably the one from the White House task force — is flashing red.

So is DeSantis’ future. His approval rating dipped as his subservience to Trump rose. Now the president is leaving office with his own ratings below 30 percent. Encouraging an insurrection will do that.

As noted, the arrival of COVID-19 vaccines will help. Herd immunity, though, remains far off.

Until then, DeSantis still can take lifesaving measures. Stop hiding the truth from Floridians.

Editorials are the opinion of the Sun Sentinel Editorial Board and written by one of its members or a designee. The Editorial Board consists of Editorial Page Editor Rosemary O’Hara, Dan Sweeney, Steve Bousquet and Editor-in-Chief Julie Anderson.