Transparency? Feds would update public about any omicron cases — not FL’s state health department

On New Year’s Eve about a year ago, the Florida Department of Health informed the public about a troubling new COVID-19 variant through a tweet, announcing that the United Kingdom variant had been detected in Florida.

But about a year later, the state health department appears to be shifting from updating the public about any potential cases of the new omicron variant, to relying on federal health officials to provide any updates.

In an email to the Florida Phoenix on Tuesday evening, a spokesperson from the state health department acknowledged that the agency has been monitoring COVID mutations but said the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will be leading efforts for variant cases.

“Public health surveillance and controlling the spread of infectious diseases have always been core functions of the Florida Department of Health,” Jeremy Redfern, press secretary, said in an email Tuesday.

Redfern continued: “CDC is the lead agency for all variant surveillance in the United States, and they will distribute any updates on the omicron variant. Since the pandemic’s beginning, the department has conducted sequencing efforts and maintains surveillance of emerging variants in Florida. As of November 30, 2021, the CDC has not detected omicron within the United States.”

While no cases have been detected, federal officials are expecting the omicron variant to seep into the country. At issue is whether Floridians will receive any communication from the state health department about any cases that have been identified – or will residents have to rely on federal health authorities to get information.

That tweet by state health officials on December 31, 2020 was in reference to the B.1.1.7, the variant first identified in the United Kingdom, stating that “Florida has evidence of the first identified case of the UK COVID-19 variant in Martin County…The Department is working with the CDC on this investigation. We encourage all to continue practicing COVID-19 mitigation.”

Around March 1, 2021 another new, more contagious COVID-19 variant — one first identified in South Africa — was now in Florida, according to the CDC.

At the time, Scott Rivkees was Florida’s Surgeon General and head of the Florida Department of Health.

Florida’s new surgeon general is Dr. Joseph Ladapo, who has fully embraced Gov. Ron DeSantis’ personal-freedom approach to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The state health department plans to respond to the potential threat of the new variant with mitigation measures, Redfern said, but no details about what safety plans will be implemented were released in the email. Still, Redfern mentioned that “the state continues to operate monoclonal antibody treatment sites and ensure accessibility statewide by allocating doses of monoclonal antibodies to ensure inventory levels meet county demand.”

“Florida stands ready to mitigate COVID-19 through prevention and treatment, rather than focusing on one solution,” Redfern said. “As we have done with previous variants of concern, the State of Florida will adapt and respond as necessary to protect public health.”

Meanwhile, a spokeswoman for Gov. Ron DeSantis told the Phoenix this week that the state plans to monitor data on vaccine effectiveness and monoclonal antibody treatments against the new variant, which was first identified in South Africa. But the Republican governor said during a news conference that Florida will not impose any lockdowns in response to omicron.

On Nov. 26, the World Health Organization classified the B.1.1.529, known as omicron, as a variant of concern.