FORT MYERS, Fla. — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis gave a coronavirus update Friday from Fort Myers where he discussed the increase in positive COVID-19 cases for the state.
During the news conference which was held at the Lee Health Gulf Coast Medical Center DeSantis said that he did not have plans to mandate a requirement to wear face masks for the state.
“To do police and hand out criminal penalties is something that would probably backfire,” DeSantis said.
Florida's median age of those tested is now in the mid-30s, DeSantis said. From June 1 to today, the number of cases for those ages 25 to 34 have nearly tripled.
“Most of these people are asymptomatic, most of them if they do have symptoms will be so mild that they would not need to seek medical attention, but you are somebody that would potentially be able to spread the virus to more vulnerable groups,” he said. “We want to send the message to folks in the younger demographic to understand that while this may not be affecting you negatively ... by passing it along to folks who may have some health issues or maybe advanced in age that it could really affect them very much.”
The Florida Department of Health reported the highest single-day spike in new cases Friday after the state saw another 8,942 new cases of coronavirus. This was the highest single-day jump in new cases in Florida since tracking began in March.
Less than an hour after the FDOH reported Friday's latest COVID-19 numbers, the state announced it's immediately suspending drinking alcohol at bars.
Secretary Halsey Beshears, of the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, made the announcement along with his department on Twitter: "Effective immediately, the Department...is suspending on-premises consumption of alcohol at bars statewide."
Friday was the first time new cases surpassed 8,000 and was the third day in a row that new case reports were more than 5,000.