Thanksgiving is upon us, and the federal government is hoping that Americans reconsider traveling this holiday season in hopes that self-imposed travel bans will help slow down the increasing cases of COVID-19, including members of U.S. Congress like Democrat Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida.
Rep. Wasserman Schultz recently stated that Americans “staying home for Thanksgiving isn’t a mandate, it’s an act of gratitude for the frontline healthcare workers who are sacrificing everything to battle the pandemic.”
“As cases surge, our hospitals are reaching capacity and nearing the need for mobile morgues and rationed ventilators,” stated Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz. “Staying home for thanksgiving isn’t a mandate, it's an act of gratitude for the frontline healthcare workers who are sacrificing everything to battle the pandemic.”
Wasserman Schultz and other Democrats are citing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recent strong recommendation that everyone stay home for Thanksgiving, suggesting that Americans celebrate the holiday “virtually or with people” they live with.
"Celebrating virtually or with the people you live with is the safest choice this Thanksgiving," the CDC recommended.
In Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) is not going to lock down the state, nor will he impose restrictive mandates on Floridians, including any travel restrictions.
Gov. DeSantis Communication Director Fred Piccolo tweeted that the high rate of infection in the state as a result of the huge number of people tested.
Available hospital bed capacity statewide is 27%. Available ICU beds - 24% and pediatric ICU beds - 43% available. 103,000 tested yesterday, cases dropped by 35% from this time last week. % positive dropped to 6.6%, (34% decrease from a week ago) 5 straight days over 100K tests
— Fred Piccolo Jr (@FredPiccoloJr) November 23, 2020
“Available hospital bed capacity statewide is 27%. Available ICU beds - 24% and pediatric ICU beds - 43% available,” stated Piccolo. “103,000 tested yesterday, cases dropped by 35% from this time last week. % positive dropped to 6.6%, (34% decrease from a week ago) 5 straight days over 100K tests”
DeSantis is allowing for individuals to exercise personal responsibility and make their own wise choices, but Democrats see his “inaction” to mandate the wearing of s mask in the midst of the growing pandemic as a sign of failed leadership.
In other words, DeSantis should be doing more than what is being done, and should install more restritions to Floridians.