The Florida health director had to leave a meeting after he refused to wear a mask in the office of a state senator, who told him he had a serious health problem, authorities said.
The state’s director of public health, Joseph Ladapo, declined to wear the mask at the meeting with state Sen. Tina Polsky.
Florida Senate Leader Wilton Simpson sent a memorandum to senators Saturday regarding the incident in Senator Polsky’s office, asking those who visit the building to be respectful of social interactions. Polsky, who represents parts of Broward and Palm Beach counties, had not made her breast cancer diagnosis public.
Polsky spoke to The Associated Press about the tense exchange with Ladapo, which was first reported by the Florida Politics site. He said they offered Ladapo and two advisers some masks and asked them to put them on when they arrived at the meeting on Wednesday. She did not tell her that she had breast cancer, but she did tell her that she had a serious health problem.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention maintains that cancer patients are at increased risk of developing severe COVID-19 symptoms and may not create the same immunity to vaccines.
Ladapo had asked to meet with her in Tallahassee as he seeks Senate confirmation after being appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis last month.
“It was very shocking to me that he treated me this way,” Polsky said. “If he is the director of health for the next several years, I am really concerned about a future public health emergency and not being able to count on him for the necessary guidance and adequate scientific leadership.”
Ladapo offered to hold the meeting outdoors, but the senator said she didn’t want to sit at the metal tables on a hot day when her office was nice and spacious. Polsky commented that he asked her why she did not want to wear the mask, but she did not respond.
The Florida Department of Health did not respond to emails seeking comment.
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