Florida reported the biggest one-day increase in COVID-19 cases of any state, with more than 15,000 individuals checking positive.
MICHEL MARTIN, HOST:
We want to go back to our top story now – the record number of new coronavirus cases in Florida – nearly 15,300 brand-new cases reported there in simply 24 hours. That is by far the biggest single-day increase in COVID-19 cases reported by any state given that the pandemic started. This news came after Disney World in Orlando reopened a few of its destinations the other day. And Governor Ron DeSantis said last week he desires schools to reopen next month.
We wanted to talk more about the situation in Florida, so we have actually called Veronica Zaragovia. She is the health care reporter at member station WLRN in South Florida.
Veronica, thanks so much for joining us.
VERONICA ZARAGOVIA, BYLINE: Thanks so much to you for having me.
MARTIN: So do we understand what triggered such a huge spike today?
ZARAGOVIA: Sure. Well, Florida has been seeing numbers increase steadily.
MARTIN: How does the guv – how is the guv taking this? Does he seem anxious about the rise in cases?
ZARAGOVIA: Well, Michel, I’ve been seeing him regularly in interview tell people not to panic, not to be scared. He says that Florida is evaluating a lot more people than it was previously in the pandemic. We have actually not spoken with the governor today – not even on Twitter. But let’s listen to what he stated at a press conference yesterday.
( SOUNDBITE OF INTERVIEW)
RON DESANTIS: We’re in a scenario where, you know, we’ve got a lot of test sites around the state of Florida. The health centers are all screening – you understand, private companies that are testing. CVSs are testing.
ZARAGOVIA: It’s true that more people are being checked, but the portion of individuals evaluating favorable is increasing, especially here in Miami-Dade County. And although there’s more screening, individuals – the drive-up screening could take hours to do.
I have actually seen vehicles lined up here in Miami Beach, where I live, where it might take up to 5 hours to get your test done.
MARTIN: What are local leaders saying about the guv’s messaging on the pandemic and his action overall?
ZARAGOVIA: You’re most likely to see a local official program up to an interview with a mask on, such as mayors, whereas Guv DeSantis will concern press conferences without a mask on. There is no state mask enforcement in place, however counties in South Florida do have them. And the governor – there’s likewise some tension at the – between the regional and state level on contact tracing. They’ve been saying that the state isn’t putting sufficient cash towards it, however the state is stating there suffices cash. So that’s another issue we have going on.
MARTIN: You just mentioned that there are significant sporting occasions, including Major League Baseball games, set up to take location in Florida in the coming weeks.
ZARAGOVIA: They are worried, as are locals in the Jacksonville area, asking the mayor to reevaluate hosting the RNC convention. They fret it’s going to cause more hospitalizations and deaths. And while there will be checking on site, the mask mandate in Jacksonville is not being enforced with charges up until now.
MARTIN: That is Veronica Zaragovia, health reporter from member station WLRN in Miami.
Veronica, thanks so much for joining us.
ZARAGOVIA: Thanks so much, Michel, to you.
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