DeSantis Pounded On Social Media As FL Hits 1M Coronavirus Cases

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — Florida added almost 10,000 positive coronavirus cases a day after surpassing a total of one million cases. Meanwhile, Gov. Ron DeSantis took a virtual hammering as he rejected mask mandate pleas and asked residents who had COVID-19 to donate plasma.

On Wednesday, the Florida Health Department reported 1,018,160 positive cases, an increase of 9,994 since Tuesday.

In a tweet Tuesday, DeSantis said, "As our state prepares for vaccine distribution, I encourage all Floridians who have recovered from COVID-19 to consider donating convalescent plasma. Along with new therapeutics, this treatment offers life-saving benefits to those fighting the virus."

His encouragement was met with an array of responses. Some Twitter users said the governor needs to sign a statewide mask mandate, many referred to him as #DeathDesantis on the social media platform and accused him of a killing spree after he extended his executive order at the end of November that bans local governments from enforcing a mask mandate.

Twitter user Odrerir tweeted, "Or you could encourage Floridians to wear masks and socially distance like (expletive) responsible and considerate adults. Oh wait.....I forgot. This is Florida. Never mind."

Other Twitter followers expressed their frustrations with job loss and unemployment during the pandemic. DeSantis tweeted that as of Tuesday, Florida was awarded $28 million in federal money through U.S. Department of Labor for disaster-relief employment, which includes humanitarian assistance and cleanup activities.

According to a news release from DeSantis' office, these activities may involve:

• Providing medicine, food, and other supplies to individuals in need.
• Assisting with setting up quarantine areas and providing assistance to quarantined individuals.
• Working at food distribution centers and other community-support organizations.
• Cleaning schools or sanitizing quarantine or treatment areas; and
• Other activities related to organizing and coordinating recovery and quarantine efforts.

Statewide coronavirus hospitalizations reported by the Florida Department of Health dashboard is 55,567, and deaths are 19,012.

The Florida Department of Health's current coronavirus report for Pinellas is 33,493 cases; Hillsborough has 59,270 cases; Polk has 28,101 cases; Pasco has 15,248 cases; Sarasota has 14,093 cases; Manatee has 17,164 cases; and Dade has 234,054 cases.