Dr. Joseph Ladapo said in a statement released Tuesday that he offered to meet outside or in a hallway for his scheduled meeting last week with Democratic state Sen. Tina Polsky. He said he doesn't believe he can communicate clearly and effectively while wearing a mask. Ladapo said in his statement that he’s “saddened” by that news and wished her “blessings and strength.”Ladapo had asked to meet her in Tallahassee as he seeks confirmation in the Senate. "His outlandish notion that one cannot communicate with a mask on all but renders his qualifications as our state’s surgeon general an absurdity.”Democrats have voiced their opposition to the appointment of Ladapo in September by Gov. DeSantis has opposed mask mandates in schools and said last week that he would call state lawmakers back to work early to pass legislation to fight vaccine mandates enacted by businesses.

Source: ABC News October 27, 2021 00:13 UTC