Thread by @kylamb8

In a jovial morning in Jax, @GovRonDeSantis is about to speak at a presser again in a few minutes. Will give the highlights momentarily.

The presser still hasn't begun. As folks may have seen by now, there were some disruptions and setbacks to the start. Will update when things get underway.

The Governor says it's clear Omicron is less pathogenic than Delta. Hospitalization rates are much lower and ICU share of hospitalizations have gone down significantly. We are, however, seeing a huge spike breakthrough rate of vaccinated cases with Omicron.

We're seeing over 50% and as high as 60% of COVID-positive patients in Florida hospitals are there from something other than COVID and just testing positive. We think statewide it's probably just under half.

The surgeon general says that cases are definitely increasing but hospitalizations are increasing at a lesser, more manageable rate. He says it's clear that most Omicron cases are mild. Both he and the Governor have mentioned most of our severe hospitalizations are Delta.

The Surgeon General says Omicron is proof that forced vaccinations, forced masks, widespread mass testing were failed policies. He says Omicron has demonstrated these are failed policies and he hopes more people will wake up to that.

AHCA secretary @SMarstiller says ICU is 83% lower than Aug. 18 hospitalization peak, and is down to just 11 percent of all current hospitalizations.

The Governor adds he hopes HHS will change the reporting of hospitalizations to make the distinction of primary diagnosis "for" COVID-19. He says in the past, we've probably been 20-25 percent merely "with" COVID where it's closer to half right now.

Asked about testing, the Governor says since the Federal government hasn't delivered on getting home tests out as promised, Florida is working on a plan to get tests to higher risk people, and others showing clinical symptoms of disease.