US Govt. Sends Hundreds br of Ventilators to Florida , as COVID-19 Surges.br The Department of Health and br Human Services has sent nearly br 300 breathing devices to the state.br The actions of the federal government come br as Republican state leaders continue to br contradict the advice of medical experts, .br and COVID-19 cases surge, br mostly among those who are unvaccinated.br Hospitalizations hit an all-time high br in FL on Aug. 10, .br ... exceeding the the state's previous record br from last summer during the peak of the pandemic.br There is this rapid, accelerated rise that is unprecedented, Ed Jimenez, University of Florida Health Shands CEO, via NBC News.br According to the Florida Hospital Association, br 85 percent of all hospital beds are full.br Intensive care unit beds are at br nearly 90 percent capacity.br When asked by reporters about the request for br more ventilators by state and local health officials, .br Republican FL Gov. Ron DeSantis indicated br he was unaware of the ask.br I have not heard about that, so I have to check to see if that's true or not. I would honestly doubt that that's true, but br I'll look. , Governor Ron DeSantis, (R-FL), via NBC News.br We have a lot of stuff that we stockpiled over the last year and a half through the Department of Emergency Management. , Governor Ron DeSantis, (R-FL), via NBC News.br I have not had any requests across my desk. I haven't been notified of that, Governor Ron DeSantis, (R-FL), via NBC News.br DeSantis recently issued br an executive order br banning mask mandates. .