Gov. DeSantis signs executive order ending all local COVID lockdowns

"The bill ensures that neither the state or local governments can close businesses or keep kids out of in-personal instruction unless they satisfy a demanding and continuous justification," said Gov. DeSantis.

According to local outlet Bay News 9, the order immediately suspends all local emergency ordinances, and gives him the ability to override future ones.

A previous executive order enacted by DeSantis completely prohibited the use of any of the dubbed "vaccine passports" by both government and private institutions within the state of Florida.

FL State House Speaker Chris Sprowls had high words of praise for Gov. DeSantis, mentioning, as Gov. DeSantis had before, the extreme contrast with the situation in New York State and California, and that in Florida in the present day.

Not all FL politicians, however, are as highly enthused about Gov. DeSantis's actions.

"Today, in pre-empting both local governments AND businesses from keeping their establishments safe, Ron DeSantis decided he cares not about public health, but power," commented St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman commented on Twitter upon hearing the news.

Previously, Kriseman had tweeted:

"To be clear, cities like St. Pete, Tampa, Orlando, Miami and Miami Beach, saved Florida and the governor's behind throughout this pandemic. Can you imagine if each city had been led by Ron DeSantis? How many lives would have been lost? What would our economy look like today?"

DeSantis has previously clashed repeatedly with local leaders and also with the Biden administration, who he called "lockdowners" in a press conference once.