Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) is apparently still hoping to win the Asshole of the Year award that he is competing for with Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.), this time by voicing support of people packing the beaches during a pandemic.
Despite health warnings and state orders urging social distancing, Americans are still flocking to the beaches in Florida to celebrate Spring break. COVID-19 is a highly contagious virus that has infected over 9,500 people nationwide and has killed at least 150. Even young people can contract the virus and become seriously ill or could potentially spread it to others who have compromised or weak immune systems.
The beach-goers have been heavily criticized for their irresponsible and reckless decision, but Gaetz defended them because of course he did.
All beaches aren’t the same. People are social distancing just fine on Okaloosa Island. I’d rather have some folks at a safe distance on the beach than all cooped up in a condo.
Let’s continue 2 support the decisions of our local communities, while providing the best health info https://t.co/r3mFKYBzYd
— Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) March 18, 2020
No, this is bad advice. This virus can survive in the air for up to three hours and survive on surfaces of objects even longer. The sun, sand and salt water isn’t going to prevent it from spreading on a beach. Gaetz has already quarantined himself to avoid having contact with others and potentially spreading the virus after he palled around with people at Mar-a-Lago who later tested positive. So he knows full well how contagious this virus is and why people should be staying home unless they absolutely must go out.
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The beach is simply not a good enough reason to go out right now.
Twitter users were quick to bash Gaetz for defending the beach-goers and urging others to go there.
The best health info says this virus is spread by people who don’t know they have it, is in body fluids and feces. It affects people of all ages, a 40 year old MD is on a vent in NY.
You are irresponsible and serving your district poorly.— Karma Police (@capeannsky) March 18, 2020
21 year old soccer coach died today. Young people should stop thinking they are invincible! https://t.co/r57zaFlGD3
— tastewart (@tastewart) March 19, 2020
Spring break has brought hoards of crowds to the beaches. All need to be shut down. Otherwise no different than being in a sport stadium for several hours a day for weeks.
— WaltonWatchdog (@waltonwatchdog) March 18, 2020
What do you bet those towns and beach cities will spend more money dealing with COVID19 fallout than they get in spring break revenue?
— Marla Tauscher (@MarlaTauscher) March 18, 2020
If you’re a resident then fine go walk on the beach alone and exercise social distancing. If its a crowd of hedonistic spring breakers then hell no.
— @DownWithData (@DownWithData) March 18, 2020
Italy gave people the same choice. How’d that go?
You’ve mocked and minimized this the whole time. Your judgment seems dangerously risky.
If we’d really ramped up testing in January containment might have worked. It’s a different game now.
— Stefan Adler (@stefanadler) March 19, 2020
How about no ventilators? He made a deadly mistake.
— Dee Weezy (@dweezycpt) March 18, 2020
You need to be silent and not put people’s lives at risk
— Oliver P. Archibald,MD,DTM&H (@oarchibald) March 18, 2020
— Zacules (@Zacules_V) March 19, 2020
All those people are going to cram together in cars, buses and planes to spread their new virus around. Defeats the whole purpose. But thinking things through doesn’t seem to be your strong suit.
— Zacules (@Zacules_V) March 19, 2020
Now is not the time for partying on beaches. People of all ages should be staying at home as much as possible. And Gaetz should be ashamed of himself. After all, even Nunes backtracked after telling people to go to restaurants during the pandemic. If Gaetz cared at all about his constituents, he would do the same and stop talking to make sure he doesn’t give out any more bad advice that worsens the crisis.
Featured image via screen capture
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