Florida's 13 congressional Democrats are demanding that Gov. Ron DeSantis mandate that people be required to wear masks in public.
The South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported on Wednesday that the lawmakers made their demand in a letter to DeSantis, who is a Republican.
"Floridians need strong, universal guidance from you during this time of uncertainty," the letter reads. "We need to hear from you, clearly and unequivocally, that wearing a mask in public is a requirement."
The Democrats maintain that masks are essential statewide.
"As positive cases surge and hospitalizations increase, it is imperative that you take data-driven action to help protect Floridians, our families, and our communities from the dangers of COVID-19," the members of Congress said in the letter spearheaded by Reps. Donna Shalala and Debbie Wasserman Schultz.
The letter came as the Florida Department of Health announced 5,004 new cases of COVID-19 in the state on Thursday. The Sarasota Herald-Tribune noted it marked the sixth time in the past seven days the state has reported more than 3,000 new cases.
Jeffrey Rodack ✉
Jeffrey Rodack, who has nearly a half century in news as a senior editor and city editor for national and local publications, has covered politics for Newsmax for nearly seven years.
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