Political | Process

While many districts refused to implement mask mandates in their schools, others stubbornly insisted upon them, even defying an order from Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to allow parental exemptions.

• We were assured that the masked counties would fare far better than the ‘Wild West’ unmasked ones, where the bodies of schoolchildren would presumably be stacked in the streets, or something.

• Except, none of that happened (via press release from DeSantis’ press secretary, Christina Pushaw)

• Meanwhile, Covid-19 cases and hospitalizations continue to decline across the state, despite largely mask less schools and no governmental vaccine mandates (via press release).

• At 27 new infections per 100,000 people, Florida now has the second lowest rate of COVID-19 infection in the entire country. Since the August 25 peak, the number of estimated infections by Nowcasting (covidestim.org) has decreased 95.9 percent. The reproductive transmission number (Rt) statewide is at 0.49 from a peak value of 1.45 on July 15.

• At 4.8% positivity rate over the past 7 days, Florida would now be considered “low transmission” according to CDC guidance. Cases on a 7 day average have fallen 77 percent in the past month alone. The number of cases reported yesterday was the lowest since July 5.

• COVID-19 hospitalizations are down to 4,562. This is a decrease of 73% since the August 22 peak, and more than 40 consecutive days of decline. According to HHS data updated today, just 8.45% of inpatient beds in Florida hospitals are being used for COVID-19 patients. This is lower than the national average of 9.71%.