Florida Democrats are demanding that Gov. Ron DeSantis issue a stay-at-home order and make the wearing of face masks mandatory as coronavirus cases surge in the state.
"By failing to reopen our state in the safe, smart, and step-by-step manner that you promised, and by ignoring CDC gating criteria, our state may be forced into a statewide economic shutdown, either by your order or simply because Floridians and visitors do not feel safe," House Democrats said in a letter sent Friday to DeSantis.
Twelve lawmakers signed the letter.
At least 327,241 people have been infected with COVID-19 in Florida, and nearly 5,000 people have died. On July 1, the state had reported a total of 158,997 positive cases and 3,650 deaths to date. State health officials on Friday reported a new daily high of 22,690 new cases.
"Death and sickness is lying at the feet of Ron DeSantis," Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., said during a video news conference Friday. "The governor needs to do his damn job."
DeSantis started reopening the state in May, but infections surged in late June and July. The governor has resisted calls to reimpose shutdowns of the economy and has left it to mayors and county commissioners to decide whether to enforce stricter measures.