By: Issac Morgan - July 22, 2021 3:18 pm Gov. Ron DeSantis discussed rising COVID-19 cases in Florida during a press conference in Fort Pierce on July 22, 2021. Source: Screenshot/Florida Channel. As COVID-19 cases surge in Florida and the more transmissible Delta variant continues to circulate, Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday declared his opposition to any mitigation efforts, such as lockdowns or mask mandates, particularly for K-12 students. During a news conference in Fort Pierce, the Republican governor addressed a reporter who noted that a group of doctors in South Florida had expressed concern about the surge in cases and criticized DeSantis’ handling of the state’s response.