DeSantis holds COVID-19 briefing in Pensacola

Gov. Ron DeSantis held a press conference regarding COVID-19 at Ascension Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola on Sunday afternoon. Desantis plans on leaving the state open.

Governor DeSantis simply wants to ensure that people are still following CDC guidelines and if so, does not feel the need to mandate another shutdown.

This decision comes after the U.S. reaches half a million cases and Florida reports over 8500 cases again today, with 29 new deaths.

DeSantis believes the spike in cases can be attributed to younger Floridians engaging in social interaction without proper social distancing.  Doctors present at the press conference did confirm that the increase in cases due to more positive test results from younger age groups.

“If you look at that 25-34 age group, that is now by far the leading age group for positive tests… You can’t control them…I mean they’re younger people. They’re going to do what they’re going to do,” DeSantis said at one point during the press conference.

The median age of coronavirus patients has been gradually decreasing. In March it was people in their 60s and now it’s become the 30s.

And doctors admit that while case numbers are still increasing, ICU hospitalizations and ventilator use are on the decline. Health officials contribute this to possibly now seeing the spread of a different strain of coronavirus.

“We’re seeing maybe a less virulent or less strong virus spread across the community in a population that doesn’t have a lot of symptoms such as the 18-30 year olds,” said DeSantis.

People should be continuing to avoid the three C’s, DeSantis explains, “We also talk about avoiding the 3 C’s: closed spaces with poor ventilation, crowded places with many people nearby, and close contact setting such as close range conversations. That’s just the reality of how this thing likes to transmit.”

DeSantis also wants to remind young people, “If you’re in one of those younger groups, make sure that you’re behaving in ways that won’t put someone who is more vulnerable at risk.”

You can watch the briefing below.