White House to Florida, Texas leaders: Help on COVID-19 or 'get out of the way'

WASHINGTON - The White House on Tuesday urged Republican leaders in Florida and Texas to follow public health guidelines on the pandemic or "get out of the way" as the United States struggles to contain the spread of the Delta variant of the coronavirus.

On a day when the White House announced that the United States had donated more than 110 million vaccine doses to more than 60 countries, it kept its focus largely on the crisis at home - outbreaks in two Republican-led states accounting for a large share of rising COVID-19 cases nationwide. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has opposed strict COVID-19 restrictions. On Friday, he issued an order blocking mask mandates in the state's schools. Texas Governor Greg Abbott also has opposed strict restrictions in his state.