In the era of COVID misinformation, a group called DEFEND THE SCIENCE is circulating a press release attacking Governor Ron DeSantis and his appointment General Surgeon appointment Joseph Ladapo, for pushing “dangerous misinformation in the media, supported people taking poison to treat COVID-19, and called masks a ‘distraction’ to the position.”
The presser, titled “DeSantis Appoints Misinformation Fanatic as Florida General Surgeon,” offers up the subtitle: “Dr. Joseph Ladapo has peddled dangerous misinformation; pushed quack cures like hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin; called masks a ‘distraction.'”
Links to an MSNBC op-ed calling DeSantis the “King of COVID” lead of actual op-eds by Ladapo, where the physician explains WHY the masking debate has proved to be a distraction.
“….Several randomized trials of community or household masking have been completed. Most have shown that wearing a mask has little or no effect on respiratory virus transmission, according to a review published earlier this year in Emerging Infectious Diseases, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s journal.”
In March, when Anthony Fauci said, “wearing a mask might make people feel a little bit better” but “it’s not providing the perfect protection that people think it is,” his statement reflected scientific consensus, and was consistent with the World Health Organization’s guidance.
Here’s the quote on the press release:
“There’s a reason why Governor DeSantis has been crowned the ‘King of Covid’ — he’s spent every ounce of political capital and taxpayer money working to undermine science, attack Dr. Fauci and those working to stop the spread of the virus, and actively sabotage the health and safety of children and families across Florida,” said Protect Our Care Communications Director Anne Shoup. “DeSantis’s appointment of known misinformation peddler, Dr. Joseph Ladapo, is just another sign that he couldn’t care less about the wellbeing of his constituents. From threatening to fine government agencies and employers for trying to protect workers, to working against proven effective measures like mask mandates and vaccines, it is clear DeSantis will stop at nothing to jeopardize the lives of Floridians.”
