ADVERTISEMENT Surge fleeting, DeSantis says; Florida covid hospitalizations break record for third day by Compiled Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports | Today at 6:53 a.m. FILE - This May 4 2021 file photo shows Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, center, speaks during a news conference at West Miami Middle School in Miami. (Matias J. Ocner/Miami Herald via AP, File) FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday downplayed a spike in covid-19 cases that's shattered state hospitalization records and strongly reiterated his vow not to impose a mask mandate or any business restrictions. With the much-more-contagious delta variant now spreading exponentially, Florida hit 11,515 hospitalized patients Tuesday, breaking last year's record for the third-straight day and up from just 1,000 in mid-June.