Gov. DeSantis, Surgeon General Ladapo discuss omicron testing guidance, treatment

On Tuesday, Gov. Ron DeSantis held a news conference alongside state officials at the Florida Department of Health in East Naples. He spoke about the need for more monoclonal antibody treatments from the federal government and a plan to provide at-home tests to people here in Florida.

The governor was joined by Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo, AHCA Secretary Simone Marstiller, and FDEM Director Kevin Guthrie.

Gov. DeSantis said he asked the Department of Health and Human Services for 40,000 doses of monoclonal antibody treatment but said that the state would only be receiving 12,000. DeSantis said that it is a fraction of what is needed to meet the state’s demand.

“They didn’t give us 40,000, they didn’t give us 30,000, they didn’t give us 20,000. They gave us 12,000 doses. That is roughly half of what the government said to new york which has millions of fewer people than we do. So that’s just wrong when you politicize things like treatment, when you give it to states you do like, and not states you don’t like. That’s not leadership,” said DeSantis.

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