Rising cases across the country to trigger tighter COVID-19 restrictions

Many states are now issuing tighter coronavirus restrictions due to rising COVID-19 cases across including near lockdowns conditions. WINK News reporter Andrea Guerrero asked Floridians how they’re handling the rise in cases and if they think a lockdown is coming to our state.

Restaurants are empty again and bars and gyms have been closing. Many states are shutting down again after seeing spikes in new coronavirus cases.

Robert Hawkes is the director of the physician program at FGU. “Not only in Florida, but the numbers are increasing nationwide,” said Hawkes.

Just Sunday, over 10,000 new positive cases were reported in Florida. “I think the fact that people are now getting out in larger groups certainly increases the potential spread of people especially if they’re not wearing mask,” Hawkes said.

Despite Florida surpassing 17,000 COVID-19 related deaths, Governor Ron DeSantis has made it clear that he has no plans to push for or implement another lockdown. Many, including the governor, cite the economy as their main concern with issuing another lockdown.

Minerva Poblet lost her job at the beginning of the pandemic and also is worried about the economy, But, she believes, Florida should follow in the path other states have taken.

“I think that it is good. Right now there is an increase of the cases, so as a prevention and protection for everybody,” Poblet said.

Oregon, New Mexico and Virginia all recently added restrictions and are requiring masks.

“Certainly I think if people wear face coverings it will decrease the contracting and spreading of COVID-19, so I think those are important pieces,” Hawkes said.

Katherine Kowalski doesn’t believe states should be shutting down, Florida included, instead, she’s gone about her normal day-to-day routine since the pandemic began and doesn’t want a shutdown to change that.

“I don’t wear my mask unless I have to go into a store and they require it, I will wear my mask,” Kowalski said.

Poblet has watched some of her loved ones be impacted by the virus first hand, so to her, it’s a bit more personal.

“Open your eyes because a lot of people don’t think that it exist because it doesn’t happen to them or someone close to them,” said Poblet.

President-Elect Joe Biden’s COVID-19 advisor has said that a four-to-six-week national shutdown could control the virus and the economy.

We want to hear from you! So we posed the question on the WINK News Facebook Page of if you’d be in favor of or against a statewide lockdown?