Florida Governor Spreads Dangerous Falsehood About Who Dies From Coronavirus
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) faced backlash on Thursday after he falsely claimed that no one in the U.S. under the age of 25 had died from COVID-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus.
“This particular pandemic is one where, I don’t think, nationwide there’s been one single fatality under 25, for whatever reason, it just doesn’t seem to threaten, you know, kids,” DeSantis told educators during a meeting about distance learning during the pandemic.
However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports on its website that one infant and four people aged 15 to 24 are confirmed to have died from the disease in the U.S. The deaths of infants in Illinois and Connecticut have also reportedly been linked to COVID-19.
Check out the video here:
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis falsely claims that the novel coronavirus hasn't killed anyone under 25 nationwide while discussing a timeline for reopening schools in the state. https://t.co/xHp4xsRq1T pic.twitter.com/tRIdywzttX
— CNN Tonight (@CNNTonight) April 10, 2020
DeSantis’ response to the virus has drawn widespread outrage. He delayed a statewide lockdown to control the spread of the illness and allowed large loopholes for churches and businesses to continue operating. On Wednesday, he wore one glove during a news conference and repeatedly touched his face and clasped his hands together, essentially negating any protection the glove may have given him.
This time, DeSantis was criticized for spreading misinformation about who is dying from the disease and appearing to downplay the threat that the virus (which does appear to pose a greater risk to older people) could have on the young:
@GovRonDeSantis Did you know that two newborns have died of COVID? And many young people from teens on up have died. Where the hell do you get your information? You already blew it with your unreal statement about not being contagious if you're asymptomatic. You should resign.
— Linda DiStefano (@lindadi1) April 9, 2020
you said nobody under 25 has died of this? what shameful misinformation. shame on you.
— flutie's girl (@flutiefan) April 9, 2020
Our idiot governor @GovRonDeSantis is at it again and wants to send our kids back to school because he says no one under 25 has died from the corona virus!!! I just can’t anymore with this ignorant.......🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️🦠🦠🦠🦠🦠🦠🦠🦠🦠🦠 https://t.co/nKr8BkyZRS
— Laura Marie (@mariamar625) April 10, 2020
Ron DeSantis said no one in this country under 25 has been killed by the coronavirus. It is true the virus does not attack the young in equal measure, but it has killed those as young as infants. Governor, you are either a peddler of false claims or uneducated. Either is bad.
— Bryan Looker (@bryan_looker) April 10, 2020
.@GovRonDeSantis oversees the 3rd largest state population in the US but that isn't enough of an incentive for him to confirm #COVID19 information before relying on it to make policy.
The CDC has readily available information showing deaths under 25https://t.co/pgYXtcUojy— Denise Shearin (@DeniseShearin) April 9, 2020
Florida‘s @GovRonDeSantis: "For whatever reason... there have no deaths under 25 — The data has been 100% consistent."
This is, of course, completely false. pic.twitter.com/5Gd8pinukR— The Tennessee Holler (@TheTNHoller) April 10, 2020
Related...
Fox News' Brit Hume Hits Donald Trump With The Painful Truth About His Coronavirus Briefings
Matt Gaetz's Coronavirus Gas Mask Stunt Comes Back To Haunt Him On Fox News
Twitter Users Point Out Problem With Melania Trump's Coronavirus Mask Messaging
Also on HuffPost
Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today.
This article originally appeared on HuffPost.