Florida has gotten very few of the millions of N95 protective masks that it has ordered.
On national television, Emergency Management Director Jared Moskowitz has called it criminal.
The Governor himself has called the arrangement of brokers and dealers “shady as hell”.
“I can tell you I’ve probably signed a half a billion dollars worth or PO’s and I fell like all I purchased was air. Because these things just don’t exist. There’s something really wrong in the market. Something’s broken. I don’t know if its brokers, distributors, I can’t tell you, that will be up to somebody when this is over to investigate,” said Moskowitz.
Moskowitz said only about five percent of the ten million masks he has ordered have been delivered.
The restaurant industry has been one of the hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, but we’re starting to see examples of businesses stepping up to the plate to lend a helping hand.
Mac Shack owner Justo Cruz said the transition to take out orders has been a struggle.
“Ten to twelve percent of a normal restaurant’s revenue and we’re now trying to make that our 90 percent, which is extremely tough,” said Cruz.
But Mac Shack has help keeping the lights on thanks to a cheese and jalapeño filled sausage product it produces with Register’s Meat Company.
“Our sales have been crazy high with all the people that are shopping in grocery stores and on the other side our friends in the restaurant business, man they have just been struggling for conditions outside of what they can do,” said Register’s Meat Company Owner Ben Kaempfer.
Now, hoping to lend a helping hand to struggling panhandle restaurants the two companies are distributing hundreds of pounds of their sausages free of charge.
They’re calling it the ‘Sausage Stimulus’.
“You don’t have to be a large corporation or have multiple businesses to give something back to the community and this is one way we’re doing that,” said Cruz.
Mac Shack and Register’s Meat Company are only asking the restaurants to feature their product in a dish to receive the free product.
They’re also helping promote the restaurants through their own social media.
The business owners and some state officials hope creative ideas like the Sausage Stimulus will spread across the state.
“Everybody needs to take their part in helping their neighbor, helping their local restaurants,” said Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Nikki Fried.
And Commissioner Fried said keeping restaurants open will play a crucial role in restarting the economy.
“That’s where all of our tourism dollars come, when people come and travel our state eating at these local establishments,” said Fried.
Partnerships like the Sausage Stimulus can be beneficial to both the recipient and the donors.
Helping keep restaurants open means distributors won’t lose their customers when the pandemic slows.
Governor Ron DeSantis’ safer at home order takes effect at midnight Friday and while it directs most Floridians to stay inside, there are some notable exceptions.
One includes attendance of religious services.
Governor Ron DeSantis, a devout Catholic, keeps a bottle of holy water on his desk.
It was there when he announced the statewide safer at home order.
“You know at this point, I think even though there’s a lot of places in Florida that have very low infection rates, it makes sense to make this move now,” said DeSantis.
Reverend Joseph Parramore of New Journey Ministries said prayer is essential for many in these trying times.
“It’s our faith, it’s our hope, it’s our belief in a greater good,” said Parramore.
But that doesn’t mean he’ll be filling the pews anytime soon.
“We’re not doing services and have not been doing services, nor have any of our affiliates been doing services,” said Parramore.
Strict measures in Tampa led to the arrest of a pastor who ignored the local restrictions by holding a large service this past Sunday.
Those local ordinances won’t be impacted by the Governor’s executive order.
And while churches will still have the option of meeting in person, Reverend Parramore recommends they consider alternatives.
“Life is more important than the risk of exposing anyone to COVID-19,” said Parramore.
The Catholic Church, which makes up 26 percent of the state’s population, suspended in-person services as early as March 20th opting to conduct mass online.
And under the executive order those churches holding in-person services would still need to comply with CDC guidelines.
Guns purchases in Florida peaked in the middle of the month as the coronavirus fears gained momentum, and more guns were sold in March than any March in the last decade.
Dallas, who didn’t want to give us her last name is a first time gun buyer.
“I believe in the second amendment, and the right to protect yourself,” said Dallas.
And while she says it isn’t all about the virus.
“It is another factor that makes me think should I be prepared if someone were to come and infringe on my rights,” said Dallas.
Sales at Kevin’s in the state’s capital peaked in mid March and have been steady since.
It’s a lot of first time buyers. People just wanting to protect themselves I think. They don’t know the outcome that lives in the future and just trying to get ahead of things. Supplies are drying up a little bit,” said Brandon Long, the gun manager at Kevin’s.
Bill and Jeanette Busby aren’t first time buyers, nor are they preppers.
“We’re going to go to the range and practice, and give her a little safety with it. But we’re not real big in guns,” said Bill.
“I think its time, and I need to get in there and learn how,” said Jeanette.
And it’s not just guns.
Ammunition is flying off the shelves.
Two men who wished to remain anonymous told us they live in a remote area and were stocking up on ammo just in case they had to start hunting for meat.
“I guess you see it happening in the grocery stores , stuff is disappearing and supplies disappearing, and people think the same thing is going to happen with ammo and guns,” said Long.
Marion Hammer with the NRA is not doing in person interviews but explained in a statement, “Firearm sales go up in times of uncertainty because Americans know their safety is ultimately in their own hands”.
The Governor says the number one logistical challenge facing the state is getting enough N-95 protective masks.
Millions have been ordered with delivery set, only to find the masks went elsewhere.
The Governor banned elective surgeries to free hospital beds and protective equipment, but on Tuesday, the state’s emergency management director tweeted to the mask making company 3M, asking them to avoid middlemen distributors and ship masks directly to hospitals, first responders or the state.
“There’ll be shipments of masks coming in and you go to get them (I’m not going to get them), but I mean people, they’re not there. There’s a lot of stuff going on in the market right now. I can’t tell you what exactly, but its not a normal situation,” said Governor Ron DeSantis.
Getting the masks are a continuing logistical challenge.
Some have likened it to a Ponzi scheme, with brokers and distributors selling masks to the highest bidder.
DeSantis was hesitant to call it criminal.
“Look, I don’t want to say that it is because I don’t have first hand knowledge, but I can tell you that it’s shady as hell, that’s for sure,” said DeSantis.
The Governor believes if the staff of a Broward nursing home had been wearing the masks, deaths could have been prevented.
“Obviously hurts the health care workers for sure. Some of the staff and workers were infected, and they were sick and they shouldn’t have been allowed to go in there. Having a mask on I think would be something that potentially ward off infections for our most vulnerable,” said DeSantis.
Mask maker 3M says it’s doubled its manufacturing capacity.
It’s now producing 100 million masks a month, meaning there shouldn’t be a shortage.
The inability to get certainty in the shipment of masks is pitting Governors against Governors trying to protect their states.
On Tuesday, the President said during his briefing that Governors should come to him for logistical and supply support.
Governor DeSantis talked to President Trump Wednesday morning, but we don’t know if the issue was discussed.
A statewide stay at home order issued by the Governor will go into effect at Midnight Friday April 3rd.
The order will remain in effect for 30 days.
“You can engage in essential services, essential activities, but other than that you need to stick close to home,” said Governor Ron DeSantis.
Floridians will still be able to take care of pets, grocery shop, pick up food and seek medical services.
The announcement comes after the US Surgeon General said the policy should be implemented nationwide and nearly two weeks of Florida Democrats demanding the policy.
DeSantis said he’s been considering it for days and acted after the President extended national guidelines for 30 days.
“People aren’t just going to go back to work. That’s a national pause button,” said DeSantis.
Democrats like Miami State Senator Jose Javier Rodriguez hope it isn’t too little too late.
“Based on all the evidence that I’ve seen, I am not an expert I have to rely on those public health experts, those medical professionals, we are at the moment where it’s almost too late, but it’s not too late,” said Rodriguez.
The Governor has long publicly questioned the effectiveness of a statewide stay at home order, and continues to do so, especially for a prolonged period of time.
And he also hopes some nonessential businesses will be able to remain open.
“They’re not going to have people be able to congregate inside their businesses, but what they can do is you know they can do delivery or things like that, maybe if they make things,” said DeSantis.
The Governor says the statewide order will be enforced the same way as previous mitigations he’s put in place, which means it will come down to local law enforcement.
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