ORLANDO, Fla. _ Gov. Ron DeSantis appeared on the morning show "Fox & Friends" on Thursday to discuss reopening schools in Florida, which has seen a surge in new coronavirus infections.
Responding to a question about the Florida teachers union's lawsuit against the state over the school reopening order, DeSantis said, "I know the union has its position, but a lot of teachers in Florida are itching to get back."
Teachers have argued that the order defies national health guidelines and puts the health of teachers and their loved ones at risk.
DeSantis said: "The way I look at it, we know schoolchildren are at the least risk for coronavirus. We know they play the smallest role in transmitting the virus."
Host Steve Doocy quoted President Donald Trump in saying the pushback to reopen schools was largely political. DeSantis responded at first by saying he wasn't sure but later said there is probably some political influence.
The conversation shifted to Florida's overall COVID-19 caseload, which was at 379,619 total cases and 5,345 deaths as of Wednesday. DeSantis countered host Brian Kilmeade when he said most ICU beds were occupied, and explained that those numbers included rural area hospitals that don't have ICUs and a very small number of beds with those who don't have COVID-19.
"We have 20 to 25% of beds available; we have 20 to 25% ICU beds state wide still available," DeSantis said.
In regards to the virus's rise in Florida, DeSantis said it's due to seasonal conditions seen in Sunbelt states such as California, Arizona, Texas and Florida.
"If you look across the Sunbelt, regardless of policy, we're seeing cases across the Sunbelt. I think the natural progression is different than in the Northeast," DeSantis said. "We knew it would come back."
