What the heck is happening in Florida? To answer the question the Delta variant and lack of leadership.
In Florida just the other day over 20,000 new cases were reported. Most of these cases are unvaccinated or undervaccinated people. Someone outside the US may wonder how this is even possible. We have vaccines a plenty. There's no wait to get one. A person who is old enough can simply walk into a pharmacy and get vaccinated. No appointment needed. We even have a jab option. It is really that easy and simple. Let me explain.
In this state are a large number of people who are against the vaccine. Many of those same people are against wearing masks or social distancing. Children of all ages are getting sick. The young children can't get vaccinated yet. The governor signed an executive order preventing local governments or school districts from mandating masks. Children go back to school this week and next. With that executive order the governor also threatened to pull school funding for counties who defy it.
Children are going back to school now. My county starts in a couple days. My county is also less than 40% vaccinated. Duval county home of Jacksonville is less than 50% vaccinated. Florida as a state is at approximately 50%. Take a look at the graphics. It's sickening not only because this didn't have to happen but people are getting sick and some are dying.
Children are in the hospital all over the state. Parents, neighbors, friends, family are getting sick and its avoidable. There's no reason for it. There are so many countries that are undervaccinated because they don't have access to the vaccines and people in Florida aren't bothering with it. Florida isn't the only state but we are the epicenter of COVID 19 in the US. Approximately 20% of cases in the US are in Florida.
According to the Washington Post on August 4th a few districts are ignoring the governor and mandating masks in schools. Parents are begging districts to defy the governor and mandate masks. The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) has recomended that people vaccinated and unvaccinated wear masks indoors. I hope the trend continues and that school districts everywhere in the state mandate masks. It is the very least that can be done.
Let's get to another big issue with kids in schools. Classrooms will be full. Teachers can see their class sizes now. I know teachers with 30 students in a classroom. The CDC recomends three feet between students. There will not be three feet in many classrooms. The rooms simply aren't large enough. Florida lost teachers, some to COVID, some went on leave, some retired and others have quit going on to other professions.
I watch as other countries and states cry about lockdowns and restrictions. I wish Florida had some. In my opinion, masks should be mandated in schools for all grades. We should be following CDC guidance.
Once the vaccines have regular FDA approval I think the COVID vaccine should be mandated as part of a students shot record. It might be as early as this fall when chldren under 12 can start getting vaccinated. The sooner, the better. Parents have to provide a shot record to enroll a student in kindergarten in the US then an updated one when they start junior high. There are very few exemptions to that. As a country we have weeded out measles, mumps, polio and other illness because of these vaccine requirements.
I think healthcare workers would applaud that. They are overworked, fatigued mentally and physically. Literally they are living in a COVID nightmare. I don't know how much more they can take. These are humans who haven't had much reprieve in Florida and a few other states. For them, for children, for those who can't get vaccinated because of medical reasons I follow CDC guidance.
I want people to live!
Another article about Desantis executive order and schools from ABC News.
An article from ClickOrlanda about hospitals and COVID in Florida.
SOS from Florida
