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Chairman's Message
Focus on Covid treatment centers
is saving lives
That state of Florida under the leadership of
Governor DeSantis continues to expand the life-saving and
hospitalization-reducing use of monoclonal antibody treatments for
people with COVID.
So far, the
state has provided more than 40,000 of these treatments to patients
statewide at the 21 state rapid response sites established in less
than two weeks. In marking the milestone to date, Governor DeSantis
was joined by Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nuñez; federal, state, and
local officials; recovered treatment recipients; and family members of
treatment recipients at three stops to discuss the life-saving
benefits of the treatment.
“If you
look at the numbers, admissions for COVID to hospitals are down,
visits to the emergency department for COVID-like illness are down,
and the COVID-positive hospital census is also down,” said Governor
Ron DeSantis.
Lieutenant
Governor Nuñez said her 82-year-old aunt and 85-year-old mother, both
fully vaccinated, tested positive for COVID-19. “The doctor told me
not to wait and to make sure they got this treatment right away,” she
said. “I saw how quickly they recovered and how we were able to stave
off significant symptoms and hospitalization. We are proud of the work
that our administration has accomplished to ensure Floridians
throughout our state have access to this incredible
treatment.”
“I want to
thank Governor DeSantis once again for aggressively deploying this
therapy in Florida,” said Congressman Neil Dunn. “Speaking as a doctor
— not a congressman — if you have any symptoms, if you test positive,
go get the monoclonal antibody treatment. It’s just that simple:
Earlier is much, much better. The reason we have it so available here
in Florida is Governor DeSantis.”
Toma Dean
said she was in desperate need. She received the Regeneron, and in
less than 36 hours she said she knew she was going to make
it.
“I was on
day nine [of symptoms] when I received the Regeneron treatment,” said
the mother of two, who received monoclonal antibodies at the
Jacksonville site. “I had a 105-degree fever, oxygen levels in the 70s
and 80s, had been given fluids at the hospital, and was sent home. I
was heading for an ICU bed or high flow oxygen, there was no doubt in
my mind. I have two kids; I need to be here for them. I went to the
Regeneron site where a photo of me went viral. If you look at that
photo and you think you’re half that sick, get up today and go to a
Regeneron site. It will save your life.”
Watch Toma Dean’s story here: https://twitter.com/GovRonDeSantis/status/1432482136976760834
Read more: https://www.flgov.com/2021/08/30/governor-ron-desantis-highlights-monoclonal-antibody-treatment-success-in-jacksonville-tampa-and-panama-city/
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There are
an increasing number of testimonials about the effectiveness of the
monoclonal treatments.
Renee Post,
of Plantation, said, “My mom is at very high risk for COVID because
she has diabetes, hypertension, neuropathy, and many other health
problems. She has been unable to get vaccinated due to health issues
that she has been suffering through over the past year. In other
words, she was the prime target for COVID. When she contracted the
virus last week, we feared the worst. Fortunately, I remembered
hearing about monoclonal antibodies on the news just a few days
earlier. We got my mom the treatment and she has recovered. She never
even had a fever, just a stuffy nose. Thank you Governor DeSantis for
making sure we knew about this life-saving treatment.”
Read many more testimonies here: https://www.flgov.com/2021/08/31/patients-and-medical-professionals-in-florida-commend-governor-desantis-efforts-to-increase-access-to-monoclonal-antibody-treatments/
And
here: https://www.flgov.com/2021/09/01/governor-ron-desantis-highlights-monoclonal-antibody-treatment-successes-in-lee-and-brevard-counties/
To
find where to receive monoclonal antibody treatments visit:
floridahealthcovid19.gov.
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Correcting a false media COVID
narrative
The
Florida Department of Health is correcting the record on false
reporting by the media. The Miami Herald published a front
page article recently that was riddled with contradictions and false
claims under the headline: “Florida changed its COVID-19 data,
creating an ‘artificial decline’ in recent deaths.”
This
narrative of an “artificial decline” and “jump,” which was picked up
by media across the state, are contradictory, provably false, and have
zero credibility. “The Department of Health welcomes the opportunity
to highlight these contradictions and falsehoods. COVID-19, and public
health in general, should never be politicized. Publications like the
Miami Herald have a duty to their readers, and to all Floridians, to
report on the pandemic in a factual and objective manner.”
The first
myth debunked:
Myth: “Florida changed its COVID-19
data, creating an ‘artificial decline’ in recent deaths”
Fact: This is completely incorrect and
misleads the public. Florida reports COVID-19 deaths by date of death
for precision, accuracy, and transparency in public communications. As
stated in the article itself from an epidemiologist:
“Deaths by
date of death curve is the most accurate you can get,” Salemi said.
“You know exactly when people died, you know how to construct the
curve and exactly when we were experiencing surges in terms of
deaths.”
This month,
the DOH worked to develop a procedural improvement with the CDC to
ensure the most accurate data is consistently provided to the public.
The Department has reported deaths by date of death to the CDC since
March. This information comes from numerous sources,
including labs, medical examiners, hospitals and physicians. All
deaths are required to be filed with the Department’s Bureau of Vital
Statistics to ensure verification and accuracy. This reporting process
is epidemiologically sound and is not unique to COVID-19. And many
other states also do it this way.
Read the entire Myths and Facts list
here: http://www.floridahealth.gov/newsroom/2021/08/083121-fdoh-sets-the-record-straight-false-data-claims-miami-herald.pr.html
Florida
Governor DeSantis announced his appointment of
Shawn Hamilton as Secretary of the Florida Department of Environmental
Protection; he has been serving as Interim Secretary since
June 2021.
“Secretary
Hamilton brings a strong, proven record of environmental stewardship
and management of award-winning state parks and conservation lands,”
Governo DeSantis said. “I am confident in his ability to continue
leading DEP and building on the foundations laid before him in our
mission to protect and restore Florida’s environment and natural
resources.”
“It is an
honor and pleasure to be asked to serve as Secretary under Governor
DeSantis, who has made the environment a top priority,” Secretary
Hamilton said. “Having served at DEP for 13 years, I have seen
first-hand the historic advancements that have been made, and the
unprecedented resources that have been secured for the protection of
the environment, especially under Governor DeSantis’ leadership. I
look forward to furthering the agency’s mission and advancing the
Governor’s environmental priorities.”
Read more here: https://www.flgov.com/2021/08/31/governor-ron-desantis-appoints-shawn-hamilton-as-secretary-of-the-department-of-environmental-protection/
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On
August 30, Governor DeSantis wrote to the U.S. Secretary of Defense,
Secretary of State and Secretary of Homeland Security to
request information on the evacuation efforts of American civilians
and allies who assisted the U.S. mission in Afghanistan.
“As
President Biden's self-imposed August 31, 2021, evacuation deadline
approaches and the situation rapidly deteriorates, the continued lack
of information sharing is unacceptable. The crisis in Afghanistan is
of President Biden' s own making, yet the consequences extend beyond
the borders of Afghanistan and into the United States. Governors need
transparency on accelerated evacuation efforts.”
Read the
full letter below.
Governor DeSantis deployed Florida resources to
help Louisiana and Mississippi with recovery from Hurricane
Ida.
“The state
of Florida stands with both our Gulf Coast neighbors as they face the
devastation left by Hurricane Ida,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “I am
proud that we are able to deploy aid to both Mississippi and Louisiana
during their time of need, just as others help Florida when disaster
strikes here. We will continue to coordinate with both states to
identify needed resources.”
“Florida is
deploying its best and brightest to support our neighbors to the
west,” said CFO and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis. “These Urban
Search & Rescue Teams are the same ones that worked Surfside and
they’re going to do a lot of good in getting impacted communities back
on their feet. Thank you to Governor DeSantis for providing strong
leadership for the recovery efforts following Hurricane Ida. The truth
is everybody along the Gulf Coast looks out for each other; it’s no
different than when Louisiana sent services following Hurricane
Michael.”
Read more: https://www.flgov.com/2021/08/30/governor-ron-desantis-announces-deployment-of-florida-resources-to-assist-louisiana-and-mississippi-with-hurricane-ida-recovery/
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Governor DeSantis demanded that the Biden-Harris
administration cease any further resettlement in Florida of
the record number of illegal aliens apprehended along the Southwest
border. These individuals who entered the country illegally have no
lawful status under federal immigration law, and the federal
government should not facilitate their resettlement in the Sunshine
State, hundreds of miles away from the border.
“President
Biden, Vice President Harris, and their administration have refused to
fulfill their responsibility to enforce immigration laws enacted by
Congress and the resulting influx of unvetted illegal aliens endangers
our national security and undermines the socioeconomic wellbeing of
hardworking American citizens,” Governor DeSantis said.
“Unfortunately, even though the federal government is responsible for
immigration enforcement, it is the states who bear the brunt of this
administration’s reckless immigration policies.
Read more: https://www.flgov.com/2021/08/26/governor-ron-desantis-demands-biden-harris-administration-cease-any-further-unlawful-resettlement-of-illegal-aliens-in-florida/
Washington,
D.C.
Americans
were enraged when they found out that the Biden Administration gave
the Taliban a list of names of American citizens, green card holders
and Afghan allies. President Biden did not deny this, his
administration claiming that they had assurances from the Taliban
terrorists that none would be mistreated.
So Senator
Marco Rubio, who is the Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee
on Intelligence and senior member of the Senate Committee on Foreign
Relations Committee, is demanding answers from the president in a
letter he sent to the President.
The letter
is short but sharp, and ends forcefully: “I will oppose any and all of
your nominees for national security positions until you provide
responses to the questions posed.”
Read Senator Rubio’s letter here: https://www.rubio.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/487257a0-d7a0-4af2-9073-7aab825bdc96/5CEB635C042E93CEE02909699581025D.08.27.21---rubio-letter-to-potus-re-list-provided-to-taliban.pdf
ICYMI
Nikki Fried suspiciously files required finances
two months late
Democrat
Nikki Fried, vying for the gubernatorial nomination, waited two months
after the financial disclosure deadline — until the last day before
she would have been fined — to finally file. And in filing, it was
discovered that she skipped out on the required ethics training for
Florida public officials.
This shows
both a total lack of transparency and a disdain for Floridians. Like
so many Democrats, she seems to think the rules that apply to everyone
else don’t apply to her. Even the media are waking up to her serial
misconduct.
Read more here: https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida-politics/2021/08/31/nikki-fried-files-financial-disclosures-two-months-after-deadline/
Social Media
Highlights
REMEMBER: @FloridaGOP and retweet and
share. The Republican message must be spread around the state and you
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