Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on Wednesday requested a gaggle of scholars attending a press convention to take away their face masks. The governor, who has strongly opposed face masks mandates in faculties all through the pandemic, mentioned their mask-wearing is "COVID theater."
"You wouldn't have to put on these masks," the governor mentioned to college students standing behind him on the College of South Florida, in keeping with The Related Press. "I imply, please take them off. Actually, it isn't doing something. We have to cease with this COVID theater. So if you wish to put on it nice, however that is ridiculous."
The governor sighed and shook his head earlier than starting the press convention, the place he introduced a $20 million funding in cybersecurity workforce training. A few of the college students took off their face masks for the occasion, whereas others continued to put on them.
DeSantis' press secretary Christina Pushaw mentioned "somebody needed to say it, after 2 years of propaganda that terrified and manipulated younger individuals" in response to the governor's feedback.
"Breathe free, really feel protected and be glad," Pushaw wrote on Twitter.
In line with the Florida Division of Well being's most up-to-date printed knowledge, Florida reported 25,640 new circumstances of COVID-19 in the course of the week of February 18 to February 24.