Florida’s top health official doesn’t want to see groups of more than 10 people until a coronavirus vaccine is produced, even if it means social distancing until next year.
Surgeon General Scott Rivkees told reporters on Monday the state should not return to prepandemic socialization until a vaccine is produced. He said he would advocate Florida residents avoid groups of more than 10 people, wear face masks in public, and continue to be vigilant about hand-washing and other sanitation measures.
“Until we get a vaccine, which is a while off, this is going to be our new normal, and we need to adapt and protect ourselves,” Rivkees said. He also acknowledged the vaccine could be more than a year away.
He later added, “As long as we’re going to have COVID in the environment, and this is a tough virus, we’re going to have to practice these measures so that we are all protected.”
Alberto Moscoso, Rivkees’s spokesman, elaborated on the situation, telling the Tampa Bay Times, “Social distancing and improved hygiene have proven to be effective in impeding the spread of COVID-19. Until a vaccine is available, precautions will need to be taken to ensure public health.”
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has yet to comment about Rivkees’s guidance. The governor was hesitant to issue a stay-at-home order for the state and did not do so until April 1.
Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said a vaccine may take up to 18 months to produce and test before becoming widely available to the general public.
