Flags To Fly At Half Staff For Victims & Families Affected By COVID-19

Tallahassee, FL - Under a new directive by Governor Ron DeSantis, flags at local and state buildings, installations, and grounds are to be lowered to half-staff all day on Wednesday in honor of the victims and families affected by COVID-19. "For the past year, millions of Americans have experienced great loss as loved ones succumbed to the virus and have encountered great challenges resulting from lockdowns, including harmful impacts to our economy, society, and mental health," DeSantis said in a prepared release. In that same release, DeSantis continued to highlight Florida’s efforts to vaccinate those deemed extremely vulnerable to the virus, including the state’s elderly population—who have been the main focus of vaccinations since December. "Throughout the pandemic, Florida has prioritized and protected those most vulnerable to the virus, including seniors, long-term care residents and individuals with underlying health conditions," said DeSantis. The state, however, did recently shift gears in vaccine eligibility and announced that a new group of individuals will be able to receive the vaccine. Starting on Wednesday (March 3rd), Florida will begin to vaccinate firefighters, law enforcement officers, and K-12 employees over the age of 50. This announcement also comes exactly a week after DeSantis issued another memorandum calling for flags to be lowered for deceased radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh, which caught the ire of some legislators, including Florida’s Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried.