Ron DeSantis: Florida To Distribute 1 Million At-Home COVID-19 Tests For Vulnerable People

Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis told Fox News on Thursday that his administration will be distributing 1 million at-home COVID-19 tests to the most vulnerable residents in his state as the Biden administration struggles to follow through on its commitment to send at-home tests to Americans.

“You know, the Biden administration promised they were going to send all these at-home tests. They said all you had to do was go online and get it. And nothing has happened in a month and a half with doing that,” DeSantis said. “And so, we looked at it in Florida and say, you know, the point of matter is not every single person needs to be going out always getting tested. You have healthy people. That’s not a good strategy. But what is a good strategy is to have these at-home tests available for our vulnerable population.”

“And so, we’ve secured a million at-home tests and we’re going to be distributing them to nursing homes and long-term care facilities throughout the state of Florida, and then to the broader senior communities throughout our population. Because we view testing as something that should lead to, then, a clinical result,” DeSantis continued. “And so, we’ve embraced early treatments in Florida. So if you have somebody that’s elderly that may be vulnerable to COVID they can get a quick test in-home and don’t got to wait in line. And then if they’re positive they have the ability, potentially, to get treatments. Now, we would like to have more treatments, but the federal government is being very scarce with those, and so we’re fighting for more so that Floridians get what they need.”

BRIAN KILMEADE, FOX & FRIENDS CO-HOST: Let’s bring in Florida governor, Ron DeSantis. He knows all about the challenges of getting therapeutics for his state, as well as testing. Governor, always great to see you.

At the — even your critics would say you are a man of action. We’re in a nationwide shortage when it comes to tests. Do you have something to say to the people of Florida?

GOV. RON DESANTIS (R), FLORIDA: Yes, Brian. You know, the Biden administration promised they were going to send all these at-home tests. They said all you had to do was go online and get it. And nothing has happened in a month and a half with doing that.

And so, we looked at it in Florida and say, you know, the point of matter is not every single person needs to be going out always getting tested. You have healthy people. That’s not a good strategy. But what is a good strategy is to have these at-home tests available for our vulnerable population.

And so, we’ve secured a million at-home tests and we’re going to be distributing them to nursing homes and long-term care facilities throughout the state of Florida, and then to the broader senior communities throughout our population. Because we view testing as something that should lead to, then, a clinical result.

And so, we’ve embraced early treatments in Florida. So if you have somebody that’s elderly that may be vulnerable to COVID they can get a quick test in-home and don’t got to wait in line. And then if they’re positive they have the ability, potentially, to get treatments. Now, we would like to have more treatments but the federal government is being very scarce with those and so we’re fighting for more so that Floridians get what they need.

STEVE DOOCY, FOX & FRIENDS CO-HOST: Sure, absolutely. And so, it’s amazing that you’re able to announce details before the federal government is because you would think the federal government — you know, they’re the whole enchilada. They should be able to do things, whereas you have taken, obviously, matters into your own hands to try to get it to the people.

But, you know, I like the — what you have just said regarding the fact that you are — not everybody needs to be tested, but the vulnerable do. Because ultimately, what we’re seeing with the Omicron is —

You know, my whole family had it around Christmastime and we didn’t know we had it. And it wasn’t until one of us got — I got the first test. Where it’s like OK, you need to keep away from your family. It was too late. I’d already infected everybody. But you’ve got to stay away from grandma.

And that’s what you’re talking about with the most vulnerable because people do need to be vaccinated, boosted, and tested to keep everybody safe.

DESANTIS: Well, and that’s the thing. I think you have a situation where Omicron, thankfully, is much less pathogenic than Delta. You see it dramatically — fewer hospital admissions. And a lot of the hospital admissions in Florida and around the country are people who are getting admitted for something else