The Briefing Room
State Chapters => Florida => Topic started by: libertybele on July 09, 2020, 07:33:16 pm
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Yes this is being reported by Yahoo .... but this isn't the first time that there are reports of case numbers being manipulated.
Florida sheriff wins battle with DeSantis administration over coronavirus data
Just two days after a Florida sheriff announced the state had abruptly cut him off from data about local cases of coronavirus infections, state health authorities have reversed course, agreeing on Thursday morning to continue providing the information.
The reversal came in the wake of social media outrage and attention from media outlets.
For four months, Mike Chitwood, the sheriff of Volusia County, a stretch of central Florida coastline that includes Daytona Beach and other popular destinations, has tried to compensate for the state’s shortfalls in data reporting by using his social media accounts to inform people where new infections were being reported. But that ended earlier this week, when Florida’s health officials informed Chitwood’s office that they would no longer provide him or any other county-level officials with the data that made such reporting possible.
On Thursday morning, as Florida reported a record-breaking 120 new coronavirus deaths overnight, Chitwood told Yahoo News that the state had agreed to resume providing the data.
“I vehemently disagree with hiding the numbers,†Chitwood said in a phone interview. He says he remains a supporter of Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican, but believes that political retribution did play a part in the sudden decision to stop providing him with data. The state offered no explanation of why it decided to provide the data after all.
“As this pandemic is growing, why are we giving less information?†Chitwood wondered. “That’s not healthy.†He told Yahoo News that he was unaware of any other Florida sheriff who was providing similar coronavirus updates.....
https://www.yahoo.com/news/florida-sheriff-wins-battle-with-de-santis-administration-over-coronavirus-data-174305203.html (https://www.yahoo.com/news/florida-sheriff-wins-battle-with-de-santis-administration-over-coronavirus-data-174305203.html)