TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said during a news conference Tuesday afternoon that the state has flattened the curve in regards to COVID-19.
DeSantis said criticisms of Florida's response to the virus -- namely those he said predicted Florida hospitals would be overwhelmed -- proved to be false.
"Those predictions have been false," DeSantis said. "Our work is succeeding. We have flattened the curve."
The governor said available hospital beds in the state have actually increased since the start of the pandemic and that newly constructed field hospitals in South Florida that were meant to take on an overflow of patients currently sit empty.
“We heard report after report saying it was just a matter of time before Florida’s hospital system was overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients,” DeSantis said.
As of 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, there are 27,869 confirmed cases of COVID-19 across Florida and a reported 4,226 hospitalizations due to the virus.
DeSantis also announced more personal protection equipment will be sent to Florida health care workers in long-term health care facilities. The incoming PPE includes about 4 million masks, 200,000 face shields and 500,000 gloves.
The state is also working to increase testing for antibodies that can help fight against the virus.