Let's see the basis of how the DeSantis administration treats people who actually have factual Covid data which conflicts with his sunny outlook. UF researchers felt pressure to destroy COVID-19 data, not criticize DeSantis, report says https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/education/article256400321.html Fear of upsetting state officials is pervasive among faculty at the University of Florida, to the point that race-related references have been edited out of course materials and researchers felt pressure to destroy COVID-19 data, according to a report released Monday by a Faculty Senate committee. The six-person panel was convened three weeks ago to investigate academic freedom issues after the university decided to bar three political science professors from testifying in a lawsuit against the state. But its findings go well beyond that episode and were so disturbing — especially regarding COVID-19 research — that the group decided to speed up its work, said Danaya Wright, a constitutional law professor and former Faculty Senate chairperson who served on the committee. “We knew it was much more widespread,” Wright said in an interview Monday. “We knew there was more silencing and pressure coming from above. The Big Above.” Read Next (More including audio, links to report, etc. at above url) Tags: FLORIDAIDIOT
Look like I may be right... New Coronavirus Variant (Omicron; B.1.1529) a ‘Serious Concern’ in South Africa Early reports suggest Omicron is fast moving but perhaps less severe. JOHANNESBURG — The Covid-19 virus is spreading faster than ever in South Africa, the country’s president said Monday, an indication of how the new Omicron variant is driving the pandemic, but there are early indications that Omicron may cause less serious illness than other forms of the virus. Researchers at a major hospital complex in Pretoria reported that their patients with the coronavirus are much less sick than those they have treated before, and that other hospitals are seeing the same trends. In fact, they said, most of their infected patients were admitted for other reasons and have no Covid symptoms. But scientists cautioned against placing too much stock in either the potential good news of less severity, or bad news like early evidence that prior coronavirus infection offers little immunity to Omicron. The variant was discovered just last month, and more study is needed before experts can say much about it with confidence.
DeSantis' new Surgeon General, Ladapo, pushes unproven alternative treatments in a PSA. Also sets up website to push Covid misinformation. Never mentions vaccination. In his new PSA, Florida surgeon general touts treatments with little track record for COVID https://www.sun-sentinel.com/health...0211207-2thmv7xserepzaejnvx4svccou-story.html Florida’s surgeon general, the controversial doctor who has cast doubt on the safety and effectiveness of vaccines, is the star of a new public service announcement that touts “innovative solutions” for COVID-19 — including treatments with little track record for use against the virus. Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo’s new PSA has angered physicians and medical experts who say the focus should be on COVID prevention and more proven treatments, especially as Florida on Tuesday saw its first confirmed case of the new omicron variant. The 30-second PSA is part of the Florida Department of Health’s “Let’s Live” campaign and has aired on the department’s YouTube channel, on cable television stations such as the Golf Channel and is embedded on a state website called healthieryoufl.org. “We have always protected Floridians through innovative solutions and COVID-19 is no exception,” says Ladapo in the PSA. In addition to monoclonal antibodies, he advises people, through an informational graphic, to talk to their doctor about these other two treatments: Fluvoxomine, an antidepressant pill. Inhaled Budesonide, a medication commonly used for asthma patients. The PSA routes viewers to a website address for more information. The website,healthieryoufl.org, also touts the fluvoxamine and inhaled budesonide as emerging treatment options and provides links to early research. More research is underway to learn the effectiveness of both medications, which were studied in relatively small trials and not at all for use with delta or omicron — the two variants now circulating. In the PSA, Ladapo never mentions vaccines and the only reference is in a graphic listing them along with vitamins, exercise and nutrition as healthy ways to support one’s immune system. He also does not mention testing. “I find it strange that certain individuals appear loathe to recommend things that are unequivocally beneficial but have a low threshold to recommend others for which more evidence is needed,” said Dr. Amesh Adalja, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, and an infectious diseases expert. Dr. Angela Reiersen, a Washington University School of Medicine psychiatrist who conducted the research on fluvoxamine, said there’s a good amount of evidence the antidepressant used for OCD can prevent respiratory deterioration and reduce the risk of mortality from COVID-19. For people at high risk, it’s best used in combination with other treatments, she said. She also said fluvoxamine has side effects including nausea and vomiting and it could interact poorly with other medications and caffeine. More research on fluvoxamine for COVID is underway. “It’s definitely not a replacement for vaccines, but it is a good option for treatment when someone becomes infected,” she said. “I think masking and vaccination are the most important way to prevent people from getting COVID in the first place. It’s better to prevent getting infected than to have to treat it.” Floridians must now contend with omicron and delta. On Tuesday, a hospital in Tampa confirmed the first case of omicron in the state in a patient experiencing mild symptoms who recently returned from international travel. It is unclear whether the patient at James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital is vaccinated. With omicron’s arrival, Dr. Frederick Southwick, an infectious diseases specialist in Gainesville, said the health department’s PSA is particularly “ridiculous.” While monoclonal antibodies have proven to limit severe disease and hospitalizations in people with COVID, the other two treatments Ladapo highlights may be beneficial but the studies have been relatively small. “Why not just promote the stuff that’s proven?” Southwick said. “In health care, we want to focus on things of high value that have a dramatic reduction in cases and are inexpensive. Vaccines fill those criteria. The fact that [Ladapo] doesn’t even mention them in the video is embarrassing.” Florida Department of Health spokeswoman Weesam Khoury did not respond to questions regarding how much health officials spent on the PSA or the overall campaign. Khoury did say the Healthier You website is intended as a one-stop shop for Floridians to access resources to promote a healthy lifestyle. “The department wants Floridians to live their best and healthiest life, and this initiative is designed to do just that. The www.floridahealthcovid19.gov website includes vast testing, vaccine, and treatment resources. The HealthierYou page links out to that page frequently. The site intentions are different.” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis nominated Ladapo as surgeon general in September. He almost immediately drew new guidelines allowing parents to decide whether their kids should quarantine or stay in school following exposure to COVID-19 and also has spoken critically about the public health focus on vaccines as a key tool for battling the pandemic. More recently, he came under fire for refusing to wear a mask in the presence of State Sen. Tina Polsky, who is undergoing treatment for breast cancer. In addition to “innovative treatments,” the state’s Healthier You website highlights vitamin supplements for COVID prevention, also unproven. Dr. Leslie Diaz, an infectious disease physician in North Palm Beach, urges caution. “With new variants, you can’t bank on them. You have to focus on what you know works and that is vaccination, and they need to be promoting that.”
The university is now launching an investigation about the pressure from the DeSantis administration to hide truthful Covid data. Truly sad that DeSantis deliberately mislead his state for political purposes -- leading to a huge number of excess deaths from Covid. University of Florida initiates investigation into alleged destruction of COVID-19 research data https://thehill.com/homenews/state-...tiates-investigation-into-alleged-destruction