Having just moved from Melbourne, Fla. in May 2021, it was interesting reading on Aug. 20 P.J. Rovero’s letter comparing Florida’s COVID-19 deaths to several Northeast states. It has been proven by Florida’s newspapers with outstanding investigating journalists that the information on Covid deaths provided by Florida Health Department to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the public has been inaccurate since April 2020. In April 2020, a journalist collected data from all the counties’ Medical Examiners on Covid deaths and the Covid deaths exceeded what the Florida Health Department publicized. Accordingly, FHD directed to all the Medical Examiners to report Covid deaths only to FHD. In addition, FHD recommended to all Medical Examiners not to put the Covid virus as cause of death on death certificates because it infringed on one’s privacy.

In May 2020, the FHD fired the person in charge of the COVID-19 dashboard because she would not falsify the data collected on Covid deaths. Her name is Rebekah Jones and she is now considered a whistleblower. My point is you cannot believe in any data/information Florida is reporting.

Even though there are no state mandates concerning the Covid virus, I believe all the amusement parks surrounding Orlando and the cruise industry are following the CDC recommendations. My advice to the snowbirds is stay home.

Stephen L. Snyder

Groton