Florida has confirmed cases of the new Omicron variant of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced during a press conference on Dec. 7.
The news came as DeSantis was taking questions after unveiling a $270 million spend on 76 projects—across the peninsular state—to help prevent future flooding from “tropical weather” and “sea-level rise.”
When a reporter asked about the discovery of Omicron in Florida, DeSantis said there would be more information later.
But, he added emphatically, confirmed cases would not prompt him to lock down the state, or take other restrictive measures, such as requiring school children to wear masks again.
“In Florida, we won’t let them lock you down,” he said, as the audience began to clap and cheer.
Families protest mask mandates before the Hillsborough County Schools Board meeting held at the district office in Tampa, Fla., on July 27, 2021. Octavio Jones/Getty Images
