Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has taken his COVID-19 delusions a step further. He recently appointed anti-mask physician Dr. Joseph Ladapo as the state’s new surgeon general, reported the Orlando Sentinel.
Today, I appointed Dr. Joseph A. Ladapo, MD, PhD as Florida Surgeon General and Secretary of the Florida Department of Health. He has a remarkable academic and medical career, and will bring great leadership to @healthyFla. Watch: https://t.co/7b3KnwIpjI
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) September 21, 2021
As the first move in his new position, Ladapo instituted a new quarantine policy that is dangerous and is sure to result in increased infections among children and therefore adults.
On Wednesday, Ladapo’s new rule was to give parents sole discretion over whether or not their child wears a mask. That may seem like a victory for the pervasive anti-mask sentiment that runs through the state.
However, the Ladapo rule does not end there. It also allows children who have been exposed to COVID-19 to still attend classes in person as long as they are asymptomatic. This will expose their classmates, teachers, staff and others to the potentially deadly disease.
There’s another problem with Lapado’s appointment though. The Harvard-trained physician was part of a group of professionals who touted the unproven drug Hydroxychloroquine to cure COVID-19 infections during the Trump administration.
NEW: Florida’s new Surgeon General, Dr. Joseph Ladapo, was a strong proponent of hydroxychloroquine as a treatment for COVID.
He was in a viral video – now removed from social media – discussing his belief that the drug helps COVID patients.
Here’s a portion ? pic.twitter.com/xPzfMKmEud
— Jay O’Brien (@jayobtv) September 21, 2021
Ladapo has claimed that his approach is not to lead by “fear.”
“We are going to have a positive approach,” he said. “Public health is not about a single item. It’s not about how many cases of COVID there are in a location — that is a part of public health but it’s not the only thing. he “That’s over. It’s not going to happen here,” he continued.
But, it is already happening in Florida. The state is one of the leaders in COVID-19 infections, hospitalizations and deaths.
For DeSantis’ part, the installation of the new surgeon general is a political play, as he and the state face lawsuits from school districts and parents over his banning of school mask mandates. The new policy halts the current legal challenge that five school districts have against the state.
The governor and new surgeon general are very likely working against their claims to not want to interrupt student learning.
