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The mayor of one of Florida’s largest counties said that Gov. Ron DeSantis has been “missing in action” during the latest wave of COVID-19, and that local governments have been forced to figure things out on their own, without help from the state, on how to respond as the omicron variant has rapidly swept the state.
Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings said new restrictions placed by DeSantis and the Florida Legislature on actions that can be taken by local governments and private businesses to combat the virus have made fighting the pandemic more difficult.
A new law signed by DeSantis last month prevents businesses from having vaccine mandates unless they allow workers to opt out, bars schools and governments from having vaccine mandates and allows parents to sue schools with masking requirements.
Demings also said the state should help foot the bill for the testing that is being conducted at county sites.
“Our residents, all Florida residents, should be outraged and they should ask the question, ‘Where is our state? Where is our governor? Where is Ron DeSantis now?’ When is the last time you saw the governor do a press briefing on COVID-19?” said Demings, a Democrat.
The governor’s office did not immediately responded to an emailed request for comment. DeSantis, who is running for reelection and eyeing a potential 2024 presidential run, has become one of the nation’s most prominent Republicans through his opposition to lockdowns and other virus rules.
Demmings, for his part, has bucked the new state law requiring all Orange County workers to wear masks indoors.