White House report puts Florida in 'red zone': stronger measures 'must happen now'

[TomCADem]

Source: Fox News

A recent White House Coronavirus Task Force report has designated Florida as a "red zone," in immediate need of increased mitigation efforts.

The nonprofit Center for Public Integrity made public the Dec. 6 report, which states that Florida has seen “stability in new cases, an increase in test positivity, and increasing hospitalizations and deaths.”

As part of increased precautions, the report suggests that the state begin to warn residents against any gatherings during December holidays. The report also suggests aggressive testing along with “masks at all times in public.”

“Despite the severity of this surge and the threat to the hospital systems, many state and local governments are not implementing the same mitigation policies that stemmed the tide of the summer surges,” the report said. “That must happen now.”

Read more: https://www.foxnews.com/us/white-house-report-florida-red-zone-stronger-measures-now

---

This is odd. Florida's official positivity rate and case numbers are going up, but they are not too bad relative to neighboring states, yet there are multiple reports that the White House is noting that Florida is in the red zone and even Fox News is reporting on this even though it seems to conflict with DeSantis's message that everything is under control.

Why the disconnect?

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2020/12/11/rebekah-jones-fired-florida-covid-19-data-chief-speaks-out-after-raid/3893165001/

Former Florida COVID-19 data scientist Rebekah Jones pushes back after raid on home

PALM BEACH, Fla. – Former Florida coronavirus data chief Rebekah Jones hit back on Thursday against state police claims that bodycam footage shows officers acted appropriately when they raided her home on Monday as part of an investigation before they took hardware she said contains evidence of government wrongdoing.

"You can see there's an officer clearly pointing a gun at my face through the window next to my door," Jones said in an interview with Florida Today.

Florida's Department of Law Enforcement released bodycam footage on Thursday showing officers trying to contact Jones by calling her phone and knocking on her door Monday morning. When they received no response, one officer points a pistol at the door while another holding a sledgehammer demands Jones open the door. She obeys and exits with her hands up, wearing a T-shirt and sweatpants.

* * *
The health department fired Jones in May for refusing to falsify coronavirus data that would look friendlier to Gov. Ron DeSantis' push to reopen businesses and public places, she says in a whistleblower complaint filed in July.

[flamingdem]

1. DeSantis must think it will help his re-election prospects to keep FL wide open

He is certainly against any kind of mask mandate.

I do wonder why the White House is calling this out. Guess DeSantis is too ambitious for Trump's "legacy".

[TomCADem]

2. WaPo: Florida Gov. DeSantis's new data analyst: an anti-mask sports blogger with no credentials

Shortly after the election, Florida's Governor hired an uber driving, anti-masker to handle COVID-19 data analysis. It is odd that Fox would run a story that would cast doubt on Florida's own official numbers.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/11/11/kyle-lamb-data-florida-coronavirus-desantis/

Last week, Kyle Lamb, a little-known sports blogger who moonlights as an anti-masker, announced he had been hired to do data analysis, “including but not limited to Covid-19 research,” for the governor of Florida.

Lamb would be joining a team of analysts under Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), the Miami Herald and Tampa Bay Times reported, many of whom have been working to monitor the coronavirus pandemic.

Lamb, 40, is not a data scientist by trade or training. In his own words, he is “not an ‘expert.’” His public statements about the pandemic have frequently contradicted advice from public health officials, and he has dedicated much of his coronavirus commentary to undermining experts.

Yet Lamb, who has been cited on Fox News for his coronavirus-related tweets, will join a team that monitors coronavirus outbreaks in a state that has seen at least 852,174 cases and 17,460 deaths since the start of the pandemic. In the past week, the number of covid-19 cases has risen in Florida, and hospitalizations jumped by more than 20 percent.

[SunSeeker]

4. OMFG. An antimask sports blogger is in charge of Florida's numbers?!

That is a sick joke. It's even worse than I thought.

[SergeStorms]

14. Hey, if Trump...

had a gas-passer in charge of the federal corona-virus task force, DeSatan can have an Uber driver/sports blogger in charge of Florida's. It's always a race to the bottom with republicans.

[sfstaxprep]

3. He'll Be Re-Elected

And somehow, he KNOWS it.

That's why he feels free to act the way he does.

We're talking about Florida, and that's how they roll.

[TomCADem]

18. DeSantis says no new lockdowns, mask mandates or any other anti-COVID-19 measure in Florida

Of course, if he is seen at a restaurant, it is no big deal, because he is a denialist through and through. But if a Democrat is seen at a restaurant, then Fox News starts demanding that the official resign or be recalled.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/politics/os-ne-ron-desantis-kissimmee-news-conference-20201130-liy73dz2hvh2rl6fhj2izx55hu-story.html

KISSIMMEE — Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday ruled out imposing any further coronavirus restrictions or a mask mandate, despite rising case numbers across the state and nation.

DeSantis said there would be “no lockdowns, no fines, no school closures. No one’s losing their job because of a government dictate. Nobody’s losing their livelihood or their business.”

“That is totally off the table,” he said.

Monday’s event at Boggy Creek Elementary was DeSantis’ first news conference in weeks, meant to highlight a new order allowing schools to stay open for the rest of the year.

[pazzyanne]

20. Could it be that our soon to be ex-president is going to be moving to Florida in less than 2 months?

He will no longer be living in a "safe zone" as he has in the White House. We all know he is not good at keeping himself safe, or others safe for that matter. Just a thought.

[mr_lebowski]

22. I thought that was the Occam's Razor of explanations as soon as I read of this (nt)

[pazzyanne]

24. I always subscribe to keep it simple. nt

[stillcool]

5. Florida hangs in those

fact-free zones. Very creative when it comes to things like addition.

[mdbl]

9. I noticed that, it's been gradually getting worse

over the last 40 years. I don't think there are any fact based government policies passed anymore in that state. I used to like the column in the Orlando Sentinel called "Floriduh"

[stillcool]

11. I lived there for a little more

than 5 years. First in the 70's, and then in the 90's. I met more people, from more places, learned more curse words in different languages, but it felt temporary. Like a store in a strip-mall.

[dem4decades]

6. They get what they ask for.

[Deuxcents]

8. Well...

I get it and I don’t ask for it. This governor and 2 worthless senators. Lots of mega rich people moving here n then vote R.. it never ends

[mountain grammy]

10. I hear ya..

I have family there. Good Dems. I love them and fear for them. Stay safe.

[ancianita]

26. Ditto.

[progree]

7. This one from Dec 8 has 49 states in the red zone for new cases

Last edited Sun Dec 13, 2020, 07:10 PM - Edit history (6)

https://publicintegrity.org/health/coronavirus-and-inequality/worst-coronavirus-surge-task-force-urges-social-distancing/

Every state but Hawaii is now in the White House’s red zone for new coronavirus cases, meaning they had more than 100 new cases per 100,000 residents in the past week. Thirty-four states are in the red zone for test positivity, with more than 10 percent of tests coming back positive. Forty-four states and the District of Columbia were in the red zone for deaths, with more than two per 100,000 residents in the past week. The task force also added a new metric to this week’s reports: 37 states are in the red zone for new hospital admissions.

This one has Florida as the 44th highest in per capita daily new cases, 7 day moving average (meaning 6 states are better, and 43 are worse)
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/us/coronavirus-us-cases.html


Their new case numbers are still rising, 26% increase over 14 days (7 day moving average on December 12 compared to 7 day moving average on November 28), and approaching the peak they reached in that metric (daily new cases, 7 day moving average) in July.
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/us/florida-coronavirus-cases.html


27th highest test rate (below the median) and 8.7% positivity
https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/testing/tracker/overview

It is odd that Fox would run a story that would cast doubt on Florida's own official numbers.

It looks like they edited their story to take that part out. I didn't see any questioning of the numbers in the version I read around 350 pm EST.

[TomCADem]

16. Normally, News About Rising Numbers and the Need for Social Distancing...

...would come from a State's own officials. For example, California and New York have their Governors announcing the need to take more aggressive action due to the increasing numbers. Heck, even Texas's Republican governor has shut down bars. With Florida, you hear about it from the White House of all places. Not Trump, of course, but his task force.

[progree]

19. Last I heard from DeSantis is that he's never going to shut down again

but even North Dakota's governor (R) crumbled (they had spent many weeks at number one in daily new cases per capita). I read it's a 10 pm closing time on bars and restaurants, and 50% capacity, as opposed to a full shutdown of them, but its been effective -- about a 60% drop.
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/us/north-dakota-coronavirus-cases.html


https://www.democraticunderground.com/10142628482

North Dakota Orders Mask Mandate, Business Restrictions, Washington Post, 11/13/20

North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum ordered a statewide mask mandate and imposed several business restrictions late Friday in an effort to contain the spread of the coronavirus that has stressed the state's hospital capacity.

The Republican governor's executive order comes after increased pressure from doctors, nurses and other health care professionals ...

The mandate requires residents to wear face coverings in indoor businesses and indoor public settings, as well as outdoor public settings where physical distancing isn't possible. The order also includes exceptions for children under age 5, individuals with a medical or mental health condition or disability that makes it unreasonable to wear a mask, and religious services.

Failure to comply with the mandate is an infraction, with a penalty of up to $1,000, though it's not clear how the order will be enforced.

Burgum also directed all bars, restaurants to limit capacity to 50%, and closed all in-person service between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m. Large-scale venues also are limited to 25% capacity. Playoff championship contests and performance events sponsored by the North Dakota High School Activities Association during the month of November may continue, under the order. But all high school winter sports and other extracurricular K-12 school activities are suspended until Dec. 14...

[Evolve Dammit]

12. I'm sure DeSatan will get right on that. Dripping sarcasm. They don't f'in care. At all.

[TomCADem]

17. Angry Florida governor defends police raid on COVID data whistleblower

It is ironic that DeSantis is attacking the data scientist that he fired when he has a conspiracy theorist, uber driver as one of her replacements.

https://news.yahoo.com/angry-florida-gov-defends-police-raid-on-covid-data-whistleblower-202806008.html

WASHINGTON — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis angrily defended the handling of a search warrant at the Tallahassee home of Rebekah Jones, the data scientist who ran the state’s coronavirus dashboard until she was fired in May.

State police officers entered her home with guns drawn on Monday, and Jones can be heard on body camera footage loudly pleading, “Do not point a gun at my children!” She later likened the officers to agents of the Gestapo, the secret police in Nazi Germany.

Jones has alleged in a whistleblower lawsuit that her firing was in retaliation for her refusal to manipulate data to make the state’s COVID-19 outbreak last spring appear less severe.

Speaking at a symposium on mental health in Tampa, DeSantis disparaged Jones. “Obviously, she has issues,” he said in response to a reporter’s question. Later, when another reporter asked about Monday’s incident — a recording of which was made by Jones and went viral on social media, drawing widespread outrage — DeSantis grew visibly irritated.

[Evolve Dammit]

21. pretty sick is what it is. Family member just died in FL and they "don't know" cause of death. BS.

[Aerator]

13. Using it for justification of The Villages and Mar-a -Lago members jumping to the front of the line.

[SergeStorms]

15. Just in time for the snow-birds.

I don't know if Canadian snow-birds are even allowed to travel to Florida this year? U.S. snow-birds would be crazy to go down there this year. Being cold beats being dead any day.

[Captain Zero]

23. And their tourist taxes and their bankruptcy filings

Gotta keep those Florida revenue streams humming along.

[Hong Kong Cavalier]

25. ...and my sister and her family's going there this week for a vacation.

She "Needs a break" and so she, her husband and their two adult offspring are heading to Florida today. They'll be back on the 19th.

My mother has flat-out stated that she won't have Christmas at the family home this year because of that. I know that she hasn't told her daughter yet; I'd be sure to hear about it one way or the other.

First year my mom's retired (finally) and even though it was going to be a 'weird' Christmas with covid it was still going to be a Christmas. Now it won't even be that.

[apnu]

27. Why is DeSantis going after Jones?

Because the data shows he's a negligent killer of Floridians and he wants the data buried under the sea.