Justin Bullock, FISM News
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis issued an executive order on Friday mandating that masks remain optional in schools throughout Florida. In doing so DeSantis overruled a renewed requirement for masks in schools imposed by two Florida counties. DeSantis’s order comes in the midst of a resurgence of COVID-19 by way of the Delta variant throughout the US.
DeSantis has long stood in opposition to state wide COVID-19 mandates and restrictions despite the recommendations from the CDC to impose them. DeSantis’s philosophy in this matter is based in the idea that parents should have the freedom to choose what is best for their household and children rather than local or state governments. Republicans have lauded DeSantis’s decision saying that he is defending fundamental freedoms that go to the heart of what it is to be an American.
Florida is one of the places that is currently being hit the hardest by the new Delta variant. According to the data compiled by the CDC, Florida, Texas, and Missouri account for 40% of new COVID-19 cases. Despite this, DeSantis is remaining committed to his principles saying, “In Florida, there will be no lockdowns, there will be no school closures, there will be no restrictions and no mandates in the state of Florida.”
DeSantis may experience some push back from some local governments in Florida. During 2020 in the initial wave of COVID-19 two county and one city government all defied DeSantis’s orders by implementing local mask mandates and other COVID-19 restrictions. In addition many major private businesses, including Disney, have already implemented internal mask and vaccine mandates. Whether or not this will generate any constitutional litigation is yet to be seen.
DeSantis’s executive order states,
WHEREAS, given the historical data on COVID-19 and the ongoing debate over whether masks are more harmful than beneficial to children and to school environments in general, we should protect the freedoms and statutory rights of students and parents by resting with the parents the decision whether their children should wear masks in school; and WHEREAS, we should equally and uniformly protect the freedoms and rights of students and parents across the state. NOW, THEREFORE, I, Ron DeSantis, as Governor of Florida, by virtue of the authority vested in me by Article IV, Section 1(a) of the Florida Constitution, and all other applicable laws, promulgate the following Executive Order, to take immediate effect: 1. Do not violate Floridians’ constitutional freedoms; 2. Do not violate parents’ right under Florida law to make health care decisions for their minor children; and 3. Protect children with disabilities or health conditions who would be harmed by certain protocols such as face masking requirements.