Florida’s surgeon general says he can’t communicate clearly while wearing a mask

Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo on Tuesday defended his decision not to wear a mask when attempting to meet with a state senator who told him she had a serious medical condition, saying he cannot communicate clearly “when half of my face is covered.”

Ladapo, an appointee of Gov. Ron DeSantis, has come under fire after Sen. Tina Polsky said he refused to put on a mask when he and two aides arrived in the waiting area of her office to discuss his pending Senate confirmation.

Polsky, D-Boca Raton, told Ladapo she had a serious medical condition —- later announced as breast cancer —- and requested he and the aides wear masks during the meeting as a COVID-19 precaution.…