Time to finish ‘Covid theater’: Florida governor tells masked college students

A visibly aggravated Florida Governor Ron DeSantis admonished a bunch of scholars for sporting face masks at an indoor information convention Wednesday, saying it was time to cease what he referred to as “this Covid theater.”

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DeSantis, a fierce opponent of virus masks and vaccine mandates, approached the scholars and requested them to take away their masks as they awaited the Republican governor on the information convention on the University of South Florida in Tampa.

“You do not have to wear those masks. I mean, please take them off. Honestly, it’s not doing anything. We’ve got to stop with this Covid theater. So if you wanna wear it, fine, but this is ridiculous,” he stated, letting out an audible sigh and shaking his head.

Florida Governor DeSantis tells USF college students to take off masks.

“You do not have to wear those masks. Please take them off. Honestly, it’s not doing anything. We’ve gotta stop with this Covid theater. So if you wanna wear it, fine, but this is ridiculous.”pic.twitter.com/4CsSScno62

— Marie Oakes (@TheMarieOakes) March 2, 2022

DeSantis is working for reelection and is taken into account to be a possible 2024 GOP presidential candidate. His opposition to masks and vaccines has drawn nationwide consideration, and his administration has banned masks mandates in colleges.

DeSantis’ workplace didn’t instantly return an e-mail looking for remark. His spokeswoman, Christina Pushaw, has tweeted defenses of the governor’s feedback, writing “I mean, someone had to say it, after 2 years of propaganda that terrified and manipulated young people. Breathe free, feel safe and be happy”

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention late final month eased its masking pointers, although continues to be recommending masks indoors in areas it considers excessive threat. Hillsborough County, the place the faculty is situated, is deemed excessive threat by the CDC.

The incident drew criticism of DeSantis over social media. US Rep. Frederica Wilson, a Florida Democrat, tweeted, “Shame on you, Governor DeSantis, for berating students who choose to wear masks and for calling the ongoing (hash) Covid pandemic ‘theater.”