Caught! Gov. Ron De Santis’ administration censors COVID-19 research to support case for re-opening Florida

A Florida scientist has revealed she was fired for “refusing to manipulate” COVID-19 data to suit the political agenda of Governor Ron De Santis, who’s been champing at the bit to reopen the state despite now passing 2,000 deaths. And who knows if those numbers are even accurate, given how De Santis’ administration is pressuring researchers to hide the real data.

After USA Today first reported Jones’ removal from her position in charge of the Florida COVID-19 Data and Surveillance Dashboard she created, she confirmed that she was kicked out because she was ordered to censor some data, but refused to “manually change data to drum up support for the plan to reopen.”

The Georgia Department of Public Health has also come under fire for sharing DOCTORED data suggesting the number of confirmed coronavirus cases was decreasing — and Gov. Brian Kemp used those doctored numbers to justify reopening the Peach State.

Science — and lives — are under attack from Republicans who are all too willing to sacrifice lives in order to bolster the economy. THIS. IS. NOT. OKAY.

So.

Are we going to have a conversation about the fact Georgia got caught doctoring their numbers and then Florida fired a manager who refused to doctor the numbers?

Because. That seems like something we should talk about.

— Jared Yates Sexton (@JYSexton) May 19, 2020

The state of Georgia made it look like its covid cases were going down ***by putting the dates out of order on its chart*** May 5 was followed by April 25, then back to May again, whatever made it look like a downslope. https://t.co/H8pSvY6rxn

— David Fahrenthold (@Fahrenthold) May 17, 2020

So both Georgia and Florida, which have been warned against opening up too early have bizarre data “glitches” or hold-ups in coronavirus data, with one person fired (in FL) for not manipulating data.

Coincidence?

— Michelangelo Signorile, subscribe to my newsletter (@MSignorile) May 19, 2020

White House #coronavirus Dr. Birx praised her work on national tv.

Florida's COVID-19 response dashboard worked very well.

It showed where cases were rising or falling by zip code.

Now, the Republican Gov. fired its architect.

Because she’s a success.https://t.co/405Xxa5Ipo

— Grant Stern (@grantstern) May 19, 2020

Florida official fired for refusing to provide fake data to drum up support for re-opening.

Jared Kushner orders fake data to drum up support for re-opening.

Donald Trump lies about data to drum up support for re-opening.

I'm seeing a pattern here . . .https://t.co/D0WYWSLvw6

— Mrs. Betty Bowers (@BettyBowers) May 19, 2020

De Santis’ people also basically bribed the scientist to keep her mouth shut.

UPDATE: Rebekah Jones has confirmed she was offered a settlement and the option to resign in lieu of being fired. https://t.co/J99POM7hWj

— tbt* (@tbtnewspaper) May 19, 2020