As coronavirus deaths climb, critics blast DeSantis for using Floridians as test subjects in a 'herd

As coronavirus deaths climb, critics blast DeSantis for using Floridians as test subjects in a ‘herd immunity strategy’


With a surge of 1,200 reported COVID-19 deaths during the past week, Florida on Saturday exceeded 24,000 resident deaths since the pandemic started last year.

The reported number of resident deaths stood at 24,004 on Saturday, up from 22,804 a week earlier, according to state Department of Health numbers. The total included 205 newly reported deaths Saturday.

The latest milestone came after cases and deaths have surged in Florida during the fall and early winter and as Gov. Ron DeSantis has focused on vaccinating seniors, who are particularly vulnerable to the virus. DeSantis has said relatively little about the soaring numbers of cases and deaths while touting the vaccination efforts.

“Florida has now vaccinated more than 500,000 seniors — far outpacing other states in the nation that are reporting updates on this critical effort,” he said in a video released by his office Friday. “This accounts for 60% of all Florida’s total vaccinations, and that percent is increasing with each week.”

Read more: https://www.orlandoweekly.com/Blogs/archives/2021/01/18/as-coronavirus-deaths-climb-nikki-fried-blasts-gov-desantis-for-using-floridians-as-test-subjects-for-his-herd-immunity-strategy