Ron DeSantis admits to letting a million unused COVID-19 tests expire in state stockpile

Amid a shortage of COVID-19 tests that has left the US giants facing empty drug shelves, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis allowed one million test kits to expire in the state stockpile.

Florida’s Department of Emergency Management chief Kevin Guthrie made the shocking confession Thursday during a news conference alongside DeSantis. “We have between 800,000 and a million Abbott testing kits in our inventory that are out of date,” said Guthrie.

The Florida Secretary of Agriculture first addressed the tests earlier this week, leveling the charges against DeSantis of hoarding kits that were about to expire. The governor responded by calling the allegation “weird.”

News of the test expiration came the same day the governor of Florida appeared on Fox and friends to identify Joe Biden’s “failed” coronavirus response and reveal plans to send one million tests to Florida’s elderly citizens. He admitted later in the day that his initiative would be hampered by the erosion of the state’s test supply: “We really wanted to send a bunch of [tests] to long-term care facilities the first time we get them. ”

Earlier this week, DeSantis’ controversial general surgeon advised the public to test fewer people — only the most vulnerable patients, who he called “high value.” He said children and those without symptoms should skip testing altogether, flying in line with CDC guidelines for coronavirus testing.