Florida's new coronavirus guidance: 'Buck the CDC'

Florida's new coronavirus guidance: 'Buck the CDC' Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo have announced new coronavirus policy recommendations that discourage mask wearing and push physicians to use off-label medications to treat the virus ABC News ABC News

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and state Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo on Thursday announced new coronavirus policy recommendations that discourage mask-wearing and push physicians to use off-label medications to treat the virus.

The guidance, titled “ Buck the CDC,” is the Republican governor's latest break with federal officials over COVID-19 rules, a feud that has boosted his prominence in the GOP as he eyes a 2024 presidential bid.

“People want to live freely in Florida, without corporate masking creating a two-tier society and without overbearing isolation for children,” DeSantis said in a statement. “We are empowering health care practitioners to follow science, not (Dr. Anthony) Fauci’s status quo.”

The announcement came a day before President Joe Biden's administration is expected to significantly loosen federal mask-wearing guidelines, according to two people familiar with the change. The people spoke on the condition of anonymity to preview the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s action before the announcement.

Florida's new policy advises businesses to stop requiring masks for workers, as the state's health guidance does not rely on wearing masks in a community setting. It also suggests that adults and children who test positive for COVID-19 should isolate for five days. The CDC has recommended the five-day quarantine for asymptomatic Americans who catch the coronavirus since late December.

In addition, the DeSantis administration is directing physicians to exercise their own judgment when treating virus patients, telling them to consider “emerging treatments backed by quality evidence, with appropriate patient informed consent, including off-label use or as part of a clinical trial.” ...