Ron and Joe’s COVID fraud show hits Broward
Gov. Gaslight and his quack surgeon general must think that Floridians are really stupid.
Monday’s performance at Fort Lauderdale’s Broward Health Medical Center was another attempt by Ron DeSantis and Joseph Ladapo to explain away COVID-19 reality. Expect many more as DeSantis continues to push the lie that he’s been the nation’s best pandemic governor.
DeSantis and Ladapo laid low over the holidays as the numbers rose, offering no guidance to school districts or local health officials. Hiding out, however, works only for so long.
COVID-19 cases are at record levels. Positive test rates in every Florida county but one are above 10%, double the accepted limit for containing virus spread.
Worse, COVID-19 hospitalizations are near levels not seen since September. For weeks last fall, the state with the self-proclaimed pandemic freedom fighter led the nation in COVID-19 death rates. DeSantis left people free to die.
On Monday, a responsible governor and surgeon general would have urged Floridians to get vaccinated. They would have urged more vulnerable Floridians to wear double-layered masks. They might even have instituted a temporary state of emergency, given predictions that the omicron wave may peak in mid-January.
DeSantis and Ladapo did none of those things. Instead, they continued to issue “advice” that Floridians who aren’t stupid or selfish should ignore.
The governor demanded that the federal government send more monoclonal antibody treatments that don’t work against the omicron variant. And he wants them soon.
Regarding vaccines, DeSantis said they aren’t preventing infections. That’s another insult to people’s intelligence.
From the start, health officials have said that COVID-19 vaccines are effective but not 100% effective. Those with breakthrough infections, however, are far less likely to require hospitalization. The vast majority of COVID-19 hospitalizations are unvaccinated patients.
Ladapo did DeSantis one better in terms of dangerous guidance. Regarding vaccines, he told Floridians to ignore the surge. “It’s really time,” Ladapo said, “for people to be living, to make the decisions they want regarding vaccination, to enjoy the fact that many people have natural immunity.”
That claim is false. While contracting COVID-19 does provide short-term immunity, it’s not like catching the measles and generally getting lifelong protection.
Studies released between August and November of this year confirm that the risk of COVID-19 re-infection is much higher among the unvaccinated. In one Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study, about one-third of COVID-19 patients had no natural immunity.
Ladapo also dismissed the need for widespread testing. That wins him the Triple Crown of COVID19 Quackery. He opposes vaccines, masks and testing. He also has touted unproven treatments.
DeSantis defrauded the public by choosing Ladapo. The fraud continues.
USA Today Network reported that Ladapo hasn’t started teaching at the University of Florida, even though he makes $337,000 to be on the faculty. UF rushed through Ladapo’s appointment after DeSantis picked him.
Republicans in Florida have enabled the governor’s COVID19 recklessness. They prefer to perpetuate the myth of DeSantis’ success.
Prevention, however, is not a priority for DeSantis and Ladapo. DeSantis might note that Florida has recovered 87% of its pre-pandemic job losses. That ranks near the 10 highest. But Florida’s COVID-19 death rate also is 10th highest.
On Monday, Broward County’s largest health care provider — where the governor’s former chief of staff is CEO — allowed itself to be a prop for anti-science buffoonery. Why did Broward Health go along? Hey, we’re not stupid.