COVID-19 and its newest, highly transmissible omicron variant may prove to be a key influencer in the state Capitol complex, which will be open to all with no restrictions in place to reduce the spread of the virus.
“This has huge potential to be a superspreader event,” said state Sen. Lori Berman, a Palm Beach Democrat, in an interview Tuesday. “We’re bringing all these people together from all over the place, and we’re putting them at risk by not at least wearing masks. I’m really disappointed.”
Participants in the 2022 session will have far fewer protections against the spread of COVID than they did in the spring 2021 regular session, when an estimated one-fourth of state senators contracted the virus, Berman said.
Then, access to the Capitol was restricted, lobbyists and visitors provided their testimony remotely from the nearby Donald L. Tucker Civic Center, seating in Senate meeting rooms was limited, weekly testing was required, and the wearing of face masks was strongly encouraged.
State Rep. Allison Tant, a Leon County Democrat, said House Speaker Chris Sprowls and Senate President Wilton Simpson, both Republicans, will be reluctant to institute any COVID rules now that Gov. Ron DeSantis has essentially outlawed them throughout the state. Simpson earlier had contracted COVID as well.
“I don’t see any chance of it. Everybody’s hands are tied,” Tant said in an interview Tuesday. “We’re going into session as if there’s no COVID.”