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Debate in Florida over responses to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

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These pages were updated from March 2020 through June 2020 and do not contain the latest commentary available. To submit arguments for inclusion on this page, email editor@ballotpedia.org. To learn how Ballotpedia decides which arguments to feature, click here.


Ballotpedia is providing comprehensive coverage of how the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is affecting America's political and civic life. In addition to monitoring federal, state, and local responses to the coronavirus, we are also capturing the nationwide and local debates on whether to extend or lift coronavirus-related restrictions affecting the economy, schools, government operations, public health, religious services, and travel.

These arguments come from a variety of sources, including public officials, journalists, think tanks, economists, scientists, and other stakeholders. We encourage you to share the debates happening in your local community to editor@ballotpedia.org.


This article covers the debate over continuing restrictions and closures in Florida in response to the coronavirus pandemic. You will find the following:


Debate over stay-at-home orders in Florida

See also: Debate over stay-at-home orders during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on the stay-at-home order in Florida.

  • Governor Ron DeSantis (R) (The Daytona Beach News-Journal): Governor Ron DeSantis said the task force for reopening Florida would focus on restarting the economy safely so that people could participate without fear.

    "We need to get the economy back in a safe way. Part of that is doing the testing. That will give people the confidence to participate." - "Coronavirus: Gov. DeSantis convenes economic task force to reopen state," April 20, 2020.

  • Miami Herald Editorial Board (Miami Herald): "From what we know about the virus’ incubation period and the ability of asymptomatic carriers to spread it, part of the recent spike could very well be tied to the state’s reopening. The governor is too smart to keep denying that link, but he does so anyway, determined to prevent further damage to the economy." - "COVID-19 is surging in Florida. Don’t deny why, Gov. DeSantis. Act responsibly," June 17, 2020.

  • Former FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate (WEAR): "I think it would be better to slowly and more deliberately reopen, so we’ll perhaps not have to shut down again. If we begin moving back without testing, we’re going to have to be prepared what happens in two to three weeks if [coronavirus] starts getting bad and we’ll have to change what we’re doing." - "Florida may not be safe to reopen until June, data shows," April 22, 2020.

  • Tampa Bay Times Editorial Board (Tampa Bay Times): "Gov. Ron DeSantis’ task force on re-opening Florida appears to be rigged to reach a foregone conclusion on easing stay-at-home orders even as coronavirus cases and deaths continue to rise. Stacking the deck will undermine the credibility of the task force’s recommendations, which are certain to be challenged by health care experts and local government officials." - "A rigged debate on when and how Florida re-opens," April 21, 2020.

    • Additional reading

  • "Majority of Florida voters say the state should not reopen by end of April: poll" - The Hill, April 23, 2020


Debate over reopening plans in Florida

See also: Debate over reopening plans during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on reopening plans in Florida.

  • Tampa Bay Times Editorial Board (Tampa Bay Times): "Floridians, like all Americans, have endured a painful, grueling time, and there’s nothing to gain by reigniting a pandemic that only moves the nation backward. Solid public health strategies, personal responsibility and common sense are needed if Florida hopes to sustain this reopening and clear the way for schools and other major institutions to retake their place in society again." - "Testing, personal responsibility key to preserving public health, economy," June 5, 2020.

  • Palm Beach Post Editorial Board (Palm Beach Post): "No, this isn’t overreach by the government. No, it’s not unconstitutional. And no, it’s not a question of your personal rights being taken away. It’s well-established law that elected officials have the right — no, the responsibility — to take actions to protect public health. To require masks is not, as critics charged, to meddle in one’s personal business. It’s primarily to protect others." - "Wear That Mask!," June 26, 2020.

  • Naples Daily News Editorial Board (Naples Daily News): "Businesses can require masks of their workers and customers, if they choose, and consumers can 'vote with their dollars' to support places that emphasize safe practices. We believe that to be the right approach, but as the number of reported cases inevitably increases with more testing and additional openings, we’d like to see everyone take the reasonable step of wearing masks in public places, lest mandatory wearing, or worse, more talk of a lockdown, takes its place." - "Surge in COVID-19 cases was likely with tests; masks needed but not lockdown," June 24, 2020.

  • Disneyworld employee protest petition (Orlando Sentinel): "This virus is not gone, unfortunately, it’s only become worse in this state. While theme parks are a great way to relax and enjoy free time, it is a non-essential business; it is not fair to the people who work there to risk their lives, especially if they are at risk or have family members who are at risk. People are more important than making a profit. Mayors, theme park executives, government officials — please hear what we are saying." - "Disney World workers start petition urging theme park to delay reopening," June 22, 2020.

  • Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board (Orlando FL Sentinel): "Reopening was always going to be a balancing act. It’s going to require patience, cooperation and common sense. As much as we’d like for coronavirus to be yesterday’s news, that’s not going to happen." - "If you want to avoid another coronavirus shutdown, act like it," June 17, 2020.

  • Jacksonville Journal-Courier Editorial (Jacksonville Journal-Courier): "States’ and cities’ prospects are linked to the actions of its people, whether they’re Joe Biden or Donald Trump or other, in common cause against the pandemic. We urge folks to wear a mask in public. It can make a difference." - "Put politics aside, think about others and wear a mask," June 17, 2020.

  • Adam Weinstein (New Republic): "I don’t think [mandatory masking is] a reasonable thing. We should be trusting people to make good decisions." - "Florida Man Leads His State to the Morgue," June 17, 2020.

  • Dr. Ron Saff, board member of Physicians for Social Responsibility (FL) (Tallahassee Democrat): "Those refusing to wear a mask while in a crowded indoor public space are not protecting their neighbors and fellow citizens — and are thus not demonstrating patriotism, are not following the Golden Rule, and plainly are implying their own minor inconvenience of wearing a face mask is more important than others’ right to minimize their risk of contracting a too-often fatal disease." - "Florida needs an executive order requiring wearing of face masks," June 15, 2020.

  • Daytona Beach News-Journal Editorial Board (Daytona Beach News-Journal): "If Floridians keep ignoring common-sense precautions and the infection rate keeps rising, Gov. Ron DeSantis will have no choice: He’ll have to enact tougher rules for social interaction and roll back parts of his 'step by step' plan for re-opening the state." - "Florida headed the wrong way," June 18, 2020.

    • Additional reading

  • "The way Trump reopened economy will likely spur a second wave of COVID-19" - Miami Herald, June 6, 2020

  • "Take COVID-19 safety measures seriously" - Gainesville FL Sun, June 24, 2020

  • "Fine Tuning County's Reopening Pace" - Citrus County Chronicle, June 2, 2020

  • "Rebuilding America: Editorial- We have to reopen, rebuild Florida together" - Palm Beach Post Editorial Board, May 28, 2020


Debate over school closures in Florida

See also: Debate over school closures during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on school closures in Florida.

  • Gainsville Sun Editorial Board (The Gainesville Sun): 

    "UF’s plan is well thought-out, using input from experts at the university in such areas as epidemiology and public health. But ensuring that the plan really works requires not only for students to be safe on campus, but to continue these practices if they attend parties, go to bars or participate in other rituals of college life. Bar owners must do their part to prevent crowded conditions conducive to spreading the COVID-19 virus." - "Editorial: Responsibility shared in UF reopening," June 7, 2020.

  • Governor Ron DeSantis (CNN): Governor Ron DeSantis said he thought Florida should consider reopening public schools at the end of the 2019-2020 school year, stating the virus did not have as great of an impact on people under 25.

    "This one, for whatever reason, much more dangerous if you're 65 and plus than the flu, no doubt about that, if you're younger it just hasn't had an impact. So that should factor into how we're viewing this." - "Florida governor falsely claims the coronavirus hasn't killed anyone under 25," April 9, 2020.

  • Tampa Bay Times editorial board (Tampa Bay Times (Paywall)): "The recklessness, hypocrisy and sheer lack of leadership from the county’s biggest employer is mind-boggling. The district should be focusing on key decisions involved in safely reopening the schools. Providing educational opportunities and needs -- especially to kids who are falling behind -- may require taking risks in the interests of education. But graduation pomp and circumstance is not part of that equation. The last thing Hillsborough should be doing is endangering thousands of graduates who are heading off into the world — or their families, friends and employers, or the teachers who are needed around the corner, or the millions of area residents who are threatened by a rising curve." - "Hillsborough County’s reckless plan to hold high school graduations," June 25, 2020.

  • Dr. Julio Frenk, president of the University of Miami (CNBC): "I am pretty confident we can keep our students safe. The key here is also to understand, this is the population with a low risk. That doesn’t mean you let your guard down because there have been cases also among young people and sadly we have lost a few young people." - "University of Miami president, an ex-WHO official, says students can return safely to campus this fall because they’re low risk for Covid-19," May 29, 2020.

  • Randy Schultz, Sun Sentinel colummnist (Sun Sentinel): "Students need to be back with their teachers as soon as safely possible. That will require testing, contact tracing and all the other containment measures that public health experts recommend. The American Federation of Teachers report nailed it: 'Reopening society and the economy hinges on successfully reopening schools.' DeSantis has three-plus months to pull it off." - "Grade Gov. Ron DeSantis reopening plan on whether schools reopen in August | Randy Schultz," May 26, 2020.

  • Florida Education Associated President Fedrick Ingram (Click Orlando): "COVID-19 presents more questions than answers. It also presents a threat that we cannot control. The potential damage that could be done to families and entire communities from an outbreak of COVID-19 at even one school far outweighs the inconvenience of continuing distance learning for the rest of the school year." - "Teachers union calls on Florida governor to keep schools closed," April 14, 2020.


Debate over religious service restrictions in Florida

See also: Debate over religious service restrictions during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on religious service restrictions in Florida.


Debate over election policy in Florida

See also: Debate over election policies and procedures during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on election policies in Florida.

We have not yet identified any statements related to this topic or state. To suggest a statement, email us.


Debate over reopening parks and beaches in Florida

This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on reopening parks and beaches in Florida.


Responses to the coronavirus in Florida

See also: Government responses to and political effects of the coronavirus pandemic, 2020 (Florida)

Click the links below for more on responses to the coronavirus pandemic in Florida.

General resources

The chart below shows coronavirus statistics from countries across the world. The information is provided by Real Clear Politics.

Click the links below to explore official resources related to the coronavirus outbreak.


See also

Footnotes

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Political responses to the coronavirus pandemic, 2020-2021
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