Florida Newspaper Pleads for Mask Mandate, Says 'We’re Dying Here'

South Florida newspaper, the Sun Sentinel, is asking Florida governor Ron DeSantis to do more amid the increasing number of coronavirus cases and deaths across the state.

The Sun Sentinel editorial board has called on DeSantis to enforce a statewide face mask mandate through an editorial titled, "Help us out, Gov. DeSantis. We're dying here" published on July 29.

"Help us all out. Far better that you require people to wear masks in public than to continue fostering conditions that will force another shutdown," the editorial was quoted in a report.

The editorial also said DeSantis' refusal to implement a mask order is "out of touch with the mainstream," adding that a new poll found that 79 percent of Floridians support a mask mandate, including 60 percent of Republicans.

The state governor urged people to wear masks. However, he is passing the responsibility to local governments to issue mask orders.

DeSantis said a state mandate is punishable by law and could backfire. He added that some local sheriffs have said that they would not enforce such orders.

A mask mandate on some parts of the state would not make sense. Businesses are likewise having the right to ask customers to wear masks.

States with Mask Orders

Some states have taken the federal suggestion to mandate wearing masks. As of June 18, the state of California is requiring its citizens to wear a mask in indoor public spaces, such as public transit.

The state also requires its people to wear a mask outside when practicing social distancing is not possible. However, the order exempts people with certain medical conditions and children under the age of two.

In New Mexico, people who refuse to wear a mask will be punished by $100 fine. Masks are required in the state at all times during any activity outside residence.

On April 17, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo issued a mask order that is applicable for anyone over the age of two.

On July 2, Texas also implemented its mask mandate through Governor Greg Abbott's order. With this order, violators would first get a verbal warning and could face up to $250 fines if a violation was done again.

However, some local sheriffs have refused to follow the new executive order that requires wearing a mask in public. Police officials in nine Texas counties said they will not issue a fine to those who refused to follow the said mask order.

Florida and COVID-19

Florida has been reporting a record number of coronavirus related deaths for four consecutive days.

The state reported 257 more deaths on Friday. This breaks the record of 253 deaths on previous day, said the Florida Department of Health.

Florida also recorded at least 9,007 new coronavirus cases, making the state's total number of case to more than 470,000. Experts said the number of cases will keep on increasing.

Public health expert at the University of South Florida, Jay Wolfson, said the surge of number that they are seeing now is the result of insistence to open the state.

"Now we'll have to wait to see if it will level out," Wolfson was quoted in an NPR report.

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