But what DeSantis understood is that there is no absolute “right thing” where COVID-19 is concerned, that we are living in an endemic (no longer a pandemic thanks to vaccines) and that there is very little political action that can be implemented to stop it. At the time of Florida’s spike, the state had an above-average vaccination rate when compared with the rest of the country. They weren’t doing anything differently than places with lower case rates, they were simply at the peak of their seasonal spike.

Florida is doing better in per-capita cases and deaths from COVID than states that put in universal mask mandates and lockdowns. But you won’t hear that from the media. Now that DeSantis’ strategy has worked, they have quietly moved on without acknowledging their predictions of doom were wrong…

Along with his new surgeon general, Joseph Ladapo, DeSantis is making data-driven decisions instead of impulsive ones made out of misplaced fear. In New York last month, for example, Gov. Kathy Hochul put 2-year-olds back in masks despite all data showing that was unnecessary. In New York City, we’re about to lose sanitation workers, police officers and firemen over the vaccine mandate despite the fact that a vaccine mandate has not been shown to reduce COVID-19 cases.

Florida has shown the time for lockdowns and mask mandates is over. When will the rest of the country learn?