Ron DeSantisThe Republican governor of Florida once referred to Decree 21-175 as the “Parents’ Constitution.” In the controversy at the end of July about the requirements for American schoolchildren to wear masks, he sanctified the right of parents in the Sunshine State to decide whether to wear mouth and nose protective devices in the classroom. Through the Parental Rights Act, Governor DeSantis also linked the threat to school management. “Florida education officials must use all legal means to ensure that the Florida school district complies with the law. This includes withdrawing federal funds from school administrations that are unwilling to cooperate,” it said in the third paragraph. According to Decree No. 21-175, the governor hopes to stop Sarasota, Miami-Dade, and Orange counties, which plan to require masks in the 2021/2022 school year to control the coronavirus for nearly 2.8 million students in the state Infect.
Now DeSantis’ “Parental Rights Act” has failed. On Friday, the Leon County Court ruled against the governor’s decree. The trial judge, John Cooper, used constitutional principles and the self-determination of individual school administrations to justify the decision, which enabled them to show that it was reasonable for students to wear masks. In addition, the lawyer also mentioned the guidelines of the Supreme Health Service of the United States. “There is evidence that the mask specifications formulated by the CDC are reasonable and in line with current scientific and medical views.” The presiding judge said. In particular, the Delta variant, which has spread rapidly in the United States for several weeks, is more infectious to children than the earlier variants. coronavirus.
High number of infections in the southeastern United States
After California and Texas, Florida has been one of the states with the highest number of infections for several weeks. In the past week, about 220 residents of Sunshine State died after being infected with the coronavirus every day; the weekend before, more than 23,000 people were infected there in one day. As the New York Times calculated, the infection rate was nearly 30% higher than in January, which is the latest high in Florida.
In the past, Governor DeSantis, a supporter of former President Donald Trump, had difficulties with mask and corona requirements. When the number of infections in Florida soared in the spring of 2020, he abandoned the state’s uniform regulations, such as curfews and beach closures. The Republican Party believes that wearing mouth and nose protection devices is superfluous, and that doctors and nurses must be vaccinated. He wanted to prevent schools from wearing masks, No. 21-175, publicly opposed the “Biden Administration.” In turn, Trump’s Democratic successor publicly attacked DeSantis and his party colleague, Texas Governor Greg Abbott.
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“Only two states, Texas and Florida, are responsible for one third of all new Covid-19 cases in the country. Some governors are unwilling to do the right thing to fight this epidemic,” President Biden weeks Qian accused both of them. The Democratic Party rejected her argument that wearing a mask is a personal decision and not a government request. The Ministry of Education is now studying how to deal with those who refuse to wear masks among the governors.
The decision of the Leon County Court is also a signal to other states. “We won a solid victory. School administrators are now able to protect students without worrying about the financial consequences,” said Charles Gallagher, a lawyer who represented several parents in the trial last week. Governor DeSantis announced an appeal. The Republicans accused the court of ruling against the rights of parents and “supporting elected politicians.”
