Nobody wants to see coronavirus numbers spike, but people must have the freedom to go out and have the contact "that they feel comfortable doing," because "freedom is what it's all about," Rep. Brian Mast said Wednesday, while hospitals in his home state of Florida are reporting that they are running out of available intensive care beds.
"People have to have that ability to go out there," the Republican lawmaker told Fox News' "Fox and Friends." "We know that that's going to result in an increase in cases of coronavirus, but people have to have that freedom in the end to manage the risks. We know that gets us to this place but it's still something that has to occur."
In Florida, which has emerged as an epicenter, intensive care units are either full or filling up, and nearly 1 out of every 100 residents is infected with COVID-19, reports The Washington Post.
"Being in contact with all of the hospitals in my area, I'm aware that they're looking at all of the numbers, how many beds they have, how many ventilators they have everything that they need to manage this appropriately," Mast commented.
He added that Gov. Ron DeSantis is examining statistical data about the people who are being affected, including their ages and the death rates, and where the highest rates of infection are occurring.
The opinions are mixed on reopening schools, he conceded, and that doesn't depend on political parties because "there's some people who want to see things remain more shuttered and there's some people that want to see things remain more open."
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.