The plea comes after an elementary school student died over the weekend from COVID-19.

Fried’s repeated plea to Gov. Ron DeSantis comes as the Department of Health and Human Services reports 17,088 Floridians hospitalized with COVID and 3,602 in ICUs. 

She says time is of the essence as teachers and now students are dying from coronavirus that they contract in unmasked classrooms. 

Canopy Oaks Elementary School in Leon County announced a little girl, a third grader has died from the virus.

“As we’re still seeing teachers dying. Now we’re seeing also children who are dying unfortunately in Leon County. Governor, it’s time. Pull down this executive order.”

Fried says with school in full session, including sports and other extracurricular activities, not having mask mandates in place will only hurt more children who come in close contact with their peers, teachers and other adults.

“Enough is enough governor. We need to be working together to protect our children and to make sure that they are being put as a priority.”

Eight districts in the state have defied the governor’s executive order and passed face mask mandates for K-12 students.

This is an emergency. Children and teachers are dying. Governor DeSantis: it’s past time to pull down your unconstitutional and dangerous executive order not only prohibiting but punishing local officials from protecting their students and staff. Enough is enough! pic.twitter.com/dhN0ajQinl

— Commissioner Nikki Fried (@NikkiFriedFL) August 24, 2021