Governor Ron DeSantis' COVID Response:
Safe. Smart. Step-by-Step.
Plan for Florida's Recovery
May 18, 2020
Message from Chairman Joe Gruters
I could not be prouder of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis who, last week continued traveling to all corners of the state - including Northwest Florida, Jacksonville, Sarasota, Palm Beach, and Miami. In case you missed any of these announcements, you can watch them on the Governor's Twitter, Facebook and YouTube pages. Over the past weeks he has met with dozens of local and community leaders as he continues to remain laser-focused on reopening Florida by using his Safe, Smart, Step-by-Step approach for Florida's recovery. But first, some good news -- his actions to protect and jump start Florida's economy have earned him an "A" in a report from the Committee to Unleash Prosperity and FreedomWorks titled, " Grading Our Governors: A Report Card on Reopening States' Economies." In RPOF news, I continue to participate in Zoom meetings and conference calls with you -- our supporters and it has given me great pleasure to highlight our Governor's accomplishments and our efforts to keep Florida red as we head into the November Election. I recently participated in an interview on the One America News Network which you can watch here. I cannot emphasize enough how fortunate we are to have such a strong leader like Governor Ron DeSantis and we thank him for his steadfast commitment to keeping Floridians safe and our economy strong.
Top News
Last week Governor DeSantis announced that Florida would be moving to a roll out of a full Phase 1 by today, Monday, May 18. He outlined his objectives -- and bulleted how Florida will be able to get there. To learn more about the full Phase 1 roll out please click here. His announcement also includes the long awaited reopening of gyms today. The Governor has continued to encourage Floridians to take advantage of opportunities to go outside for fresh air and exercise stating it is good for mental health and overall well-being.
Week in Review
Friday, May 15 Governor Ron DeSantis held a press conference at Ascension St. Vincent's Hospital in Jacksonville. He was joined by Mayor Lenny Curry and health experts who wanted to strongly remind Floridians to seek medical help if they are not feeling well.
Thursday, May 14 Governor DeSantis kicked off the day by joining the Fox and Friends crew to share some good news with all sports fans. He stated that Florida will be welcoming the return of professional sports. You can watch the announcement here.
Governor Ron DeSantis also traveled to Miami and joined with several South Florida Mayors and discussed his Safe. Smart. Step-by-Step Plan for Florida's Recovery. He shared the news that Miami-Dade and Broward would be joining the rest of the counties that are currently implementing Phase1 of the reopening. Wednesday, May 13 the Governor held a meeting at the Florida State Capitol to discuss measures that the state has taken to protect Florida's most vulnerable residents -- the elderly, and how together the state has been able to limit the spread of COVID-19 at long-term care facilities. The Governor also referenced several slides that can be viewed here.
Sunday, May 10 Gov. DeSantis travelled to West Palm Beach where he announced that they would be able to enter Phase 1 on Monday, May 11th. The Governor was joined by Palm Beach County Mayor Dave Kerner.
Saturday, May 9 Governor DeSantis directed DEO to waive the work search and work registration requirements for claimants through May 30, 2020. In accordance with federal law, claimants will be required to return to the CONNECT system every two weeks to request their benefits.
Friday, May 8 Governor DeSantis was joined by Orlando barber shop owner J Henry who helped the Governor announce the much anticipated re-opening of barber shops, hair salons and nail salons with enhanced safety protocols for all counties currently in Phase 1, including Palm Beach County, effective Monday, May 11th. The announcement was made by the Governor on twitter with the help of barber shop owner J. Henry.
Quotes of the Week
"4,800 deaths in New York nursing homes is 3x the amount of deaths from COVID19 in the entire state of Florida... And I will tell you why, in Florida, Governor DeSantis is right...Here in NY, we have to learn from this...We need that policy they have in Florida.Thank God for governor Desantis." - Dr. Marc Siegel, Fox News Contributor
FOX News, Tucker Carlson and Dr. Marc Siegel highlighted how Governor DeSantis' strategy to take swift action early on during the COVID-19 to protect senior citizens in nursing homes and assisted living facilities helped flatten the curve in Florida and protect lives. Watch the segment HERE.
Tweets of the Week
Gov DeSantis Tweet: Florida records best testing day since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. On May 7th, Florida received nearly 20,000 test results, which yielded only 358 new Florida cases and the lowest statewide positivity rate - 1.89% - on record for new cases since the start of the pandemic. Retweet the good news:
Videos of the Week
 Gov. DeSantis pushing a return to normalcy in Florida:
RPOF Chairman Joe Gruters Discusses Florida's Reopening
Graphics to Share
News Roundup
State of Florida Resources
Want more information? Florida has been hailed as one of the most transparent states in the nation during the response to COVID-19. Here are the top resources accessible to all Floridians:
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