DeSantis Blasts Biden Administration for Withholding Monoclonal Treatments

January 3, 2021 Updated 10:57 A.M. ET

FORT LAUDERDALE (FCV) – At a press conference Monday morning, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) blasted the Biden Administration for not allowing states to directly purchase monoclonal antibody treatments.

“We do not believe that the federal government should be holding back any more medications. We think we have to offer this, particularly for our elderly population,” he said.

“We are ready to go, we are ready to receive.”

On tests, DeSantis explained that the federal government has taken control over the distribution of at-home COVID-19 tests. DeSantis said Florida is ready to purchase more tests if they are given the ability to by the Biden Administration.

DeSantis also has worked with the legislature to set aside $1 billion to purchase monoclonals to treat infected Floridians.

Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo plans to push for a testing education effort, with DeSantis emphasizing that Floridians should test only if they believe they are actually infected with COVID-19, not just out of speculation.

After Ladapo asked the federal government to permit direct purchase from the states of monoclonals, the Biden Administration increased monoclonal distribution of several brands, but is still severely restricting distribution. 

Florida has seen a surge in COVID-19 cases, but hospitalizations and deaths remain much lower than the previous Delta variant peak, despite cases being much higher than ever recorded.