Florida alone has accounted for about one in five new COVID-19 infections in the U.S. over the past two weeks. The New York Times’ pandemic tracker shows the U.S. has averaged 96,036 new daily COVID-19 infections over the past 14 days, with 17,757 on average of those being reported in the southern state. Despite the surge, DeSantis, a Republican, has blocked schools from issuing new mask mandates and eschewed new restrictions to curb the spread of the pandemic.

“There’s no question that the governor, in this case, has placed his political future over the life, health and well-being of the residents here in the state of Florida,” Demings, a Democrat, told CNN in a Thursday morning interview. “And I say that because this is the same governor that just last year did put mandates in place that restricted businesses. And he did a number of things in that regard.”

Demings argued the “only thing that has changed now is his polling amongst his base.” The mayor said DeSantis has “somehow lost focus on what really is important.” The Democratic official said that the government “exists” to keep people “safe.”

The mayor said earlier in the interview he and his county government have done what they could at the local level to address the surge in new infections. “We’re doing what we can. However, here within the state of Florida, the governor and Florida legislature have significantly inhibited the ability of local governments from doing any type of mandates.”

Florida has been breaking its previous record-high COVID-19 hospitalizations from last year this week. As of Tuesday, more than 11,000 people were hospitalized with the novel coronavirus in the state. But DeSantis has pushed back against implementing new restrictions, and declined to implement a mask mandate. The Republican argued that the spike is seasonal, noting that people are spending more time inside together.

“Even among a lot of positive tests, you are seeing much less mortality that you did year-over-year,” DeSantis said during a press conference this week. “Would I rather have 5,000 cases among 20-year-olds or 500 cases among seniors? I would rather have the younger,” he asserted.

Nearly 70 percent of adults in Florida have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine while just over 59 percent have received both shots. Overall, 49 percent of all Floridians have been fully vaccinated while about 59 percent have received at least one dose.

Over the past two weeks, an average of 68 people have died of COVID-19 per day in Florida. Since the start of the pandemic, Florida has recorded the third-highest number of total infections of any state in the country, with more 2.6 million in total. It has recorded the fourth highest number of deaths, with 39,319 reported as of Thursday morning.

Newsweek reached out to DeSantis’ press office for comment but did not immediately receive a response.