Here are a few updates on the state of COVID-19 in the states of Arkansas, Texas and Florida, MS and LA — most of them lead by Republican governors and/or legislatures, who are hell bent on preventing local officials from requiring masks in their schools and communities. Many are them are also anti-vaxxers and have actively discouraged vaccines among their anti-vaccine republican supporters. All states have among the lowest vaccination rates in the country.
This is by no means a comprehensive set of COVID news today for these states today but it highlights the horror being perpetrated in these states by a party that has gone full sociopathic along with its clueless supporters.
Arkansas — 8 ICU beds left. Gov. Asa Hutchinson only changed his mind on masks 2 days ago. But the law that bans masks is still on the books.
Texas — hospitals asked to voluntarily postpone elective medical procedures. Seeking out-of-state health care personnel. Opening antibody infusion centers. Increasing vaccine action centers. But Gov. Abbott will not budge on masks.
Florida — new record cases today and yesterday ...
… hospital occupancy is at all time high ...
… while the death toll continues to rise, even among the young ...
… and Gov. DeathSantis responds … by threatening more cruel actions against local school officials that require masks.
Mississippi — another basket state -
Louisiana is not far behind —
Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) responds by … fasting and prayers? No vaccine mandate for public workers or those in high-risk sectors though. Although he did belatedly reinstate mask requirements in schools recently. Louisiana may have a Democratic Governor, but the state is controlled by republicans.
The morbid South
Such is the madness that inflicts the republican party and its supporters. Somewhere there is a calculation by republicans that this is good for their party’s future in keeping a boot on American Democracy. Maybe they think that they can successfully blame the deaths and suffering on Biden and Democrats. Some of the Governors have been known to take advice from the snake-oil salesmen who advocate letting everyone get infected and thereby achieve herd immunity. Maybe, they are simply incompetent or just plain mad.
Lets’ make sure our friends and family in these states stay informed and prepared. And let’s make sure voters are aware of this and that they throw the evil bums out in November 2022.