FL COVID Cases, Hospitalizations Sharply Decline With No School or Statewide Mandates

October 7, 2021 Updated 8:52 A.M. ET

CLAIM: Ron DeSantis’ no-mask mandate rule put Florida children at immense danger to the COVID-19 virus.

CLAIMANT: Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried

FACT CHECK: According to Florida COVID-19 statistics, DeSantis’ no-mask mandate rule did not fail to “keep [Florida’s] children safe at school.”

TALLAHASSEE, FL – Florida has seen a sharp decline in COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations, among all age groups, despite the state’s lack of mandates and restrictions.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) issued an executive order barring schools from issuing COVID restrictions, such as mask mandates, in July. DeSantis received criticism from the left, who argued that the lack of restrictions would lead to devastation and turmoil in the state.

In reality, since schools have begun, COVID cases have never stopped declining, on average. Florida is at 27 new infections per 100,000 people, which is the second lowest rate of COVID-19 infection in the United States.

According to covidstim.org, the number of infections has decreased 95.6%. 

Florida is at a 4.8% positivity rate in the past week. According to this rate, the state is now an area of “low transmission.”

Hospitalizations are also down 73% since late August, decreasing to 4,562. Hospital beds are widely available and ready to treat patients.

Furthermore, COVID-19 cases in children aged 5-17 have decreased 79% in September. The decrease was seen in the 54 counties that have no school mask mandate rule. In these counties, the positivity rate decreased 65% from late August to the end of September.

The argument from the left that not implementing mask mandates in schools puts the state at high risk was disproven over the first 2 months of schools being in session.