FL Surgeon General Defends His Mask Refusal Incident: “I Can’t Communicate With Half Of My Face Covered”

Florida Politics reports:

Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo said in a statement Tuesday he would never knowingly disrespect anyone, three days after news broke that he was asked to leave a Senator’s office for not wearing a mask.

“Having a conversation with someone while wearing a mask is not something I find productive, especially when other options exist,” Ladapo wrote. “It is important to me to communicate clearly and effectively with people. I can’t do that when half of my face is covered.”

Ladapo’s statement did not include an apology to Polsky. However, he did extend his sympathies for her diagnosis. “I am genuinely saddened by Senator Polsky’s recent diagnosis of breast cancer, and I pray for her and her family and wish them God’s blessings and strength.”

Read the full article. Over the weekend, multiple Florida politicians called for the state Senate to refuse to confirm Ladapo’s appointment. Such confirmations are relatively moot in Florida, as the Senate must vote against such confirmations in two consecutive sessions before an appointee of the governor is removed from a post.

RT: .@FLSurgeonGen responds to #masking dust-up: ‘I can’t do that when half of my face is covered’

Story by @RenzoDowneyhttps://t.co/fMQ1LPzMIK#FlaPol pic.twitter.com/4dCmghRWai

— Phil Ammann ?⌨️? (@PhilAmmann) October 26, 2021