A2 | Saturday, August 7, 2021 | ExpressNews.com |San Antonio Express-News METRO Local news: [email protected], 210-250-3171 Abbott, DeSantis are in a race to the bottom

Anti-vaxxers vs. the vaccinat- ELAINE AYALA braced both movements. ed. The unmasked vs. the Commentary Neither governor can out- masked. Trump Trump himself, especial- In the two states leading the ly if the former president runs in nationwide surge in coronavirus 2024. But DeSantis emerged as cases, two Republican gover- the favored alternative to Trump nors are trying to outdo one among conservatives at the another in rejecting common- Conservative Political Action sense policies to contain the Conference held in Dallas in crisis. July, Taylor said. It’s Texas Gov. Greg Abbott vs. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. ring mayors, county judges and ‘Playing the villain’ Both face re-election next school districts from requiring DeSantis may be taking the year, and both are positioning masks based on local condi- greater risk with his COVID themselves as contenders for tions. policies, since his re-election as the 2024 Republican presiden- Abbott says such safeguards governor is by no means as- tial nomination. should be strictly a matter of sured. In Texas, Abbott should They’ve been competing to choice and “personal responsi- have nothing to worry about, defy public health recommenda- bility.” Taylor said. tions, despite the deadly risk to DeSantis has been equally Joe Raedle/Tribune News Service But, he added, the delta vari- many of their supporters. adamant in rejecting mask rules Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has been as adamant as ant could be a game changer if Iknow that sounds crass. and restrictions on businesses. Gov. Greg Abbott in rejecting commonsense policies. infections, hospitalizations and Politics can be crass, and though He says Americans face a choice deaths continue to rise — forcing their strategies may be winning between “a free society” and “a tensive care and 158 are on ven- this week by the Texas Educa- all levels of leadership to re- ones, they’re races to the bot- biomedical security state.” tilators. tion Agency, schools can’t man- spond. tom. Like Trump, both Abbott and Texas and Florida account for date masks and don’t have to If that happens, Abbott and Abbott and DeSantis aren’t DeSantis have been vaccinated one in three new cases national- inform parents of positive CO- DeSantis would have a harder motivated solely by ideology. against the coronavirus, which ly. It is overwhelmingly the VID-19 cases in classrooms. Nor time deflecting scrutiny by They’re raising money by show- has killed more than 615,000 unvaccinated who are becoming must schools conduct contact blaming COVID spikes on un- ing just how much they’re like people in the United States. infected, being hospitalized and tracing. If they do, students who documented migrants. former President Donald In Texas on Friday, the state dying. were in close contact with infec- Taylor said that in the past, Trump. reported 73 new deaths and ted people don’t have to be kept elected officials, whatever their Like Trump, they’ve pushed a more than 8,500 COVID patients ‘Shortsighted’ out of school. party, addressed public health twisted view of “freedom” and in hospitals. In Bexar County, Abbott is seeking re-election This week, the youngest pa- crises in “get-it-done” fashion. reopened their states’ econo- the Metropolitan Health District in a red state that has shown tient fighting COVID-19 in Bexar He was hard-pressed to iden- mies, despite the danger to the has elevated the coronavirus only a streak of purple. DeSantis County was a 4-year-old on a tify a previous example in which public. risk level from “moderate” to will face voters in a decidedly ventilator. responding vigorously to a pub- “severe” and “worsening.” purple state, where he has “You’d think it would be dam- lic health crisis was called an ‘Biomedical security state’ You can imagine what individ- struggled politically, said Jon aging,” Taylor said of the gover- intrusion on “freedom.” Abbott rescinded his state- ual patients are going through. Taylor, chair of the political nor’s policies. “But they’re in The two governors have a lot wide mask order this spring as The latest data show more science department at the Uni- line with a majority of Repub- in common. “Both enjoy wear- the pandemic appeared to ease. than 1,002 people hospitalized versity of Texas at San Antonio. lican voters now.” ing black hats and playing the When the delta variant surfaced with COVID-19 in the San Anto- He called Abbott and DeSan- Yet Taylor noted that Abbott villain to liberals,” Taylor said. in June and began spreading like nio area, compared with 125 in tis’ pandemic strategies blunt and DeSantis aren’t “extreme” And both desperately want to wildfire, the governor wasn’t mid-June. The positivity rate has and abrasive, their policies conservatives. They aren’t con- be president of the United content to rule out a new mask reached 20 percent, a 10-fold “shortsighted, self-serving and spiracy theorists, QAnon follow- States. mandate at the state level. He increase in two months. Some hubristic.” ers or supporters of the neo- handcuffed local officials, bar- 273 COVID patients are in in- Under new guidance issued fascist Proud Boys. Trump em- [email protected] When and where Texans can get the COVID-19 vaccine

EXPRESS-NEWS STAFF Pfizer vaccines to those 12 and older at the Robert B. Green Most major pharmacies offer vaccines on a walk-in campus, 903 W. Martin St., 8 basis, and many doctors, hospitals and clinics, in- a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays. Walk-ins accepted. cluding the military and VA systems, have appoint- An adult family member or ments available. We update this guide daily to keep guardian must accompany track of the main public providers, major clinics and those under 18 and provide temporary “pop-up” events: written consent, but proof of age isn’t required. Details at www.wecandoitsa.com, or Who can get it now? Metro Health is running a call 210-644-1960 for informa- All Texans 12 and older are series of “pop-up” vaccine clin- tion. eligible to be vaccinated against ics: Witte Museum: Offering COVID-19. Several providers Today: 9 a.m.-1 p.m., District Pfizer vaccines to anyone 12 or now offer the Pfizer vaccine to 8’s Back to School event, Pre-K older at the museum’s Prassel children 12 to 15. Children must SA, North Education Center, Auditorium, 3801 Broadway, 10 be accompanied by an adult. 3635 Medical Drive (Pfizer and a.m. to 5 p.m. on Aug. 17 and J&J); 9 a.m.-3 p.m., District 5’s Aug. 21. Those who get vaccinat- Can I get help? Back to School event, Las Pal- ed will receive a free general The city offers text alerts mas Library, 515 Castroville admission ticket to the muse- about opportunities for ap- Road (Pfizer and J&J); 10 a.m.-2 um. Open to anyone not vacci- pointments with public provid- p.m., LULAC Foundation at nated or still needing a second ers — to sign up, text Vaccine or, Grace Lutheran Church, 504 dose. Use museum’s south en- for alerts in Spanish, Vacuna, to Avenue E (Pfizer and J&J); 10 trance, across the street from 55000. a.m.-2 p.m.,Vertical Church, the Brackenridge Garage. VIA Metropolitan Transit 4218 Thousand Oaks (Pfizer and The following providers re- offers free rides to or from an J&J); 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Back to quire appointments: appointment at a city- or coun- School Plaza Party, Plaza Gua- Baptist Health System: ty-sponsored COVID-19 vaccina- dalupe, 1418 El Paso St. (Pfizer Vaccine appointments are avail- tion site. Check VIAinfo.net and J&J) able at North Central Baptist for the latest service updates. Sunday: 1-4 p.m., Back to Hospital on certain dates School at Scott Branch YMCA, through Aug. 31 at baptist Walk-in access: 1213 Iowa St. (Pfizer and J&J) healthsystem.com/our- CentroMed: Pfizer vaccines Monday: 11 a.m.-6 p.m., San Andriy Onufriyenko/Getty Images response-to-covid-19/covid-19- are available for those 12 and Antonio Zoo’s parking garage, vaccine-registration. The older at CentroMed’s clinic at first level, 3903 N. St. Mary’s St. 1-6 p.m., Second Baptist Muslim Children Education and Pfizer vaccine is available to 5439 Ray Ellison Blvd.A parent (Pfizer second doses and J&J); 11 Church, 3310 E. Commerce St. Civic Center, 5281 Casa Bella those 12 and up. Anyone youn- or legal guardian must accom- a.m.-7 p.m., Alamo City Barber (Pfizer and J&J) (Pfizer second doses and J&J) ger than 18 must have parental pany children and give consent. College, 8910 Bandera Road Thursday: 11 a.m.-6 p.m., San To find a mobile clinic near consent. Walk-ins are welcome. To make (Pfizer and J&J); 1-6 p.m., Sec- Antonio Zoo’s parking garage, you, go to covid19.sananto Comal County: The Comal an appointment, call 210-334- ond Baptist Church, 3310 E. first level, 3903 N. St. Mary’s St. nio.gov/What-YOU-Can-Do/ County Public Health Depart- 3820 or go to www.centro Commerce St. (Pfizer and J&J) (Pfizer second doses and J&J); Vaccination#get-vaccinated. ment provides COVID-19 vac- medsa.com. Tuesday: 10 a.m.-3 p.m., noon-7 p.m., SAY Sí, 1310 S. To find a testing location, visit cines, including to children 12 City: People can get vaccinat- NISD Prep Day at John Jay High Brazos St. (Pfizer second doses covid19.sanantonio.gov/What- and older; residents may sched- ed without appointments from School, 7611 Marbach Road (Pfiz- and J&J); 1-6 p.m., Second Bap- YOU-Can-Do/Testing#Testin- ule an appointment at co. 4to 8 p.m. Wednesday through er and J&J); 11 a.m.-6 p.m., San tist Church, 3310 E. Commerce gLocation. comal.tx.us or by calling 830- Friday at the Alamodome drive- Antonio Zoo’s parking garage, St. (Pfizer and J&J) Texas MedClinic: Offers 221-1150. thru site at 100 Montana St., first level, 3903 N. St. Mary’s St. Friday: 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Daw- Pfizer vaccines to adults and Metro Health’s Eastside Parking Lot B. Metro Health (Pfizer second doses and J&J); son Community Center, 2500 E. children 12 and older at all Tex- Immunization Clinic: Register offers the Pfizer vaccine to 1-6 p.m., Second Baptist Commerce St. (Pfizer and J&J); 9 as MedClinic locations in San at 210-207-8894 for appoint- children 12 and older — consent Church, 3310 E. Commerce St. a.m.-5 p.m., First Mexican Bap- Antonio, Bulverde and New ments, openings available 8 from a parent or legal guardian (Pfizer and J&J) tist Church, 201 Meredith Drive Braunfels. Walk-ins accepted; a.m.-3 p.m. Monday through is required. Adults can register Wednesday: 10 a.m.-4 p.m., (Pfizer and J&J); 3-6 p.m., Mex- appointments encouraged at Friday at 210 N. Mel Waiters for a vaccine waitlist online in UTSA Main Campus, 1 UTSA ican American Unity Council, texasmedclinic.com. Shots Way. Youths 12 and older can English at sanantonio.gov/ Circle, Denman Ballroom in Stonehouse Apartments, 4950 offered from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. receive Pfizer vaccine. waitlist or in Spanish at Student Union Building (Mo- Woodstone (Pfizer) weekdays and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. UT Health San Antonio: sanantonio.gov/listade derna); 11 a.m.-6 p.m., San Anto- Aug. 14: 11 a.m.-7 p.m., DAV weekends. Children 17 and Now offering the Pfizer vaccine espera. Or call 311 and select nio Zoo’s parking garage, first KEL-LAC Chapter 114, 12070 younger must be accompanied to those 12 and older. Schedule option 8; or 210-207-6000 level, 3903 N. St. Mary’s St. Leslie Road in Helotes (Pfizer by parent or guardian. vaccines at www.uthealth from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. (Pfizer second doses and J&J); and J&J); 12:30-3:30 p.m., The University Health: Offers care.org/COVID.

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