From WPLG (FL) -

Florida is breaking pandemic records. Where is Gov. Ron DeSantis?
Florida has been reporting a record-breaking increase in coronavirus cases. The highly-contagious omicron variant is affecting some of the state’s most important industries including airlines and cruise lines.
Despite the situation, Gov. Ron DeSantis decided to go on vacation.

From KSDK (MO) -

'This is really a frightening scenario': Task force reports record number of new COVID admissions
The St. Louis Metropolitan Pandemic Task Force held an unplanned briefing Thursday to provide an update on what leaders called "the rapidly deteriorating COVID situation."
"We felt it was really important to let the community know where we are and what they can do to help prevent a disaster from happening," Dr. Alex Garza said in a recorded briefing Thursday.

From St. Louis Post-Dispatch -

Amid latest surge, Missouri governor won't renew COVID-19 state of emergency
Even as the number of COVID-19 cases is surging, Missouri Gov. Mike Parson announced Thursday that he will let a 22-month-long state of emergency declaration expire on New Year’s Eve.
With more than 15,000 dead in the state from the respiratory virus, Parson said he would not renew the declaration saying “there is no longer a need for a state of emergency.”

Contrast that with what a Democrat does.

From the governor's office in Delaware -

Governor Carney to Issue State of Emergency to Fight COVID-19 Winter Surge
Governor John Carney on Thursday announced a new State of Emergency declaration – effective Monday, January 3, 2022 – to combat the winter surge of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations.
The new SOE declaration, which will be formally issued on Monday, will:
Allow the State additional flexibility to respond to the winter surge of COVID-19.
Enable members of the Delaware National Guard to work as certified nursing assistants (CNAs) in skilled nursing facilities to care for patients currently in Delaware hospitals.

From KSTU (UT) -

Utah reports a staggering 3,563 new COVID cases Thursday

The Utah Department of Health on Thursday, for the second day in a row, reported more than 3,000 new COVID-19 cases since the day before. Including seven more deaths.
Before the holidays, new daily case counts had been trending down, but this week they shot back up by a large margin.

From IndyStar.com -

'Come and count them': Indiana hospital CEO addresses Rokita's COVID-19 numbers comment
Indiana health care leaders and CEOs on Thursday pushed back at comments Attorney General Todd Rokita made during a recent televised interview in which he questioned the accuracy of the state's COVID-19 data and attributed hospital staffing shortages to vaccine mandates.
That is not the case, said Brian Tabor, president of the Indiana Hospital Association, though it's a claim raised time and time again about the health care sector.

The IndyStar story about Rokita's comments is here.

From KBOI (ID) -

Idaho Covid positivity up, 924 new cases and 1 death
Idaho Covid positivity is up, and the state saw 924 new cases on Thursday, the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare reports.
Statewide positivity has risen from 5.4 percent to 8.4 percent over the course of the last week.

What do these states have in common?

They're mostly run by Republicans who despise vaccines, masks, and other Covid mitigation efforts.

From Johns Hopkins University -