Florida

Gov. DeSantis announces youth summer camps, activities can reopen

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Gov. Ron DeSantis has lifted all state restrictions on youth sports, activities and summer camps, effective immediately.

The governor said it’s time to let parents decide what’s best for their children and allowed them the opportunity to send them to community centers, sports leagues or summer camps.

DeSantis made the announcement from a community center in Jacksonville.

Read: Orange County mayor endorses Universal Orlando’s reopening plan, Legoland set for June 1 reopening

He cited Florida’s COVID-19 data as a reason to lift the restrictions, saying that no Floridians under the age of 25 have died from the virus. He said keeping day care centers open did not lead to a spike in infections in the state’s youngest citizens and believes that parents, coaches and camp counselors can put safe practices in place to keep kids safe.

DeSantis went on to say that the vast majority of severe cases have been in the population of 90 and older. That age group has surpassed all severe cases of people under the age of 65, so he believes getting some normality back in the lives of our youth is the right thing to do.

The governor added that parents have the final say and if they don’t feel something is safe they’ll make the decision that’s right for their family.


Steve Barrett

Steve Barrett, WFTV.com

Reporter Steve Barrett returned to WFTV in mid-2017 after 18 months in the Twin Cities, where he worked as Vice President of Communications for an Artificial Intelligence software firm aligned with IBM.