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Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has banned schools from forcing students to wear masks, and will give parents the choice as to whether their children should cover-up.

He signed an executive order Friday saying that making children wear masks 'may lead to negative health and societal ramifications...could inhibit breathing, lead to the collection of dangerous impurities and adversely affect communications in the classroom and student performance.'

The governor's executive order also said that 'there is no statistically significant evidence to suggest that counties with mask requirements have feared any better than those without.' 

His edict, which is effective immediately, also stressed that 'all parents have the right to make healthcare decisions for their minor children,' - such as whether to mask them up.  

Speaking at a Cape Coral event hours before signing the order, the GOP lawmaker said: 'We want to be able to choose, and we want to be able to teach our children without our faces covered. We think that's the most fair way to do it'

DeSantis was cheered by supporters as he made the pronouncement, and also welcomed parents who are against masks to address the crowd. 

He said he wouldn't make any of his three young children wear masks, and claimed they'd likely tear them off anyway if they were forced to do so. 

Vowing not to re-impose any COVID rules as cases surge because of the Indian 'Delta' variant, DeSantis continued: 'In Florida, there will be no lockdowns, there will be no school closures, there will be no restrictions and no mandates in the state of Florida.'

The governor's newly-signed order puts him on a collision course with two Florida school districts, in Broward and Gadsden Counties.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, pictured in Miami on July 13, has introduced an executive order banning schools from making students wear masks 

Both have warned students that they must wear masks when they return to school next month

The new executive order supersedes those rules, and will likely trigger confrontations between pro-mask school workers and parents as well as students who are opposed to masks. 

DeSantis also vowed to call a special session of the state assembly if schools ignored his planned order.

Vaccines are currently only available to children aged 12 and over. Pro-maskers say letting them go barefaced in class risks an infection spike - and harming those who are unvaccinated or immunocompromised.

Supporters' of DeSantis's policy say children rarely fall seriously-ill with COVID, and cite the availability of vaccines for adults as reason to avoid mask rules.  

DeSantis's announcement on his order drew fury from state teachers' union the Florida Education Association, the Tallahassee Democrat reported. 

A spokesman said: 'Whether it is mandating a pay plan that requires teachers with 15 years of experience to be paid the same as a first-year teacher or telling locally elected officials they cannot enforce recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics, Gov. DeSantis continues to think that Tallahassee knows best what all Floridians need,' FEA President Andrew Spar said.

'We ... ask Gov. DeSantis to allow all Florida's citizens to have a voice by empowering the elected leaders of cities, counties and school districts to make health and safety decisions locally based on their unique needs and circumstances.'

Democratic State Representative Anna Eskamani also condemned the move, tweeting: 'Our Governor continues to prioritize his own political agenda over the health and well being of Floridians by going after masks.

A worker checks' kids temperatures at Baldwin Park Elementary School in Orlando last August. DeSantis's planned executive order would supersede compulsory mask rules recently announced by two Florida school districts, Broward and Gadsden

Democrat state representative Anna Eskamani issued two tweets claiming DeSantis's mooted executive order would 'endanger lives' 

'Meanwhile homelessness and poverty are legitimate issues he could be focused on. But NOPE, let's keep on w/the culture wars & endanger lives.'

She then invoked another culture war issue, writing: '"Defends Freedom of Choice" is what Republicans are saying during the Governor's anti-mask press conference; I'll be sure to re-quote them when we're debating against proposed abortion bans in the upcoming legislative session!' 

But Florida State Speaker Chris Sprowls issued a statement saying he 'applauded' his fellow Republicans' 'decisive action'

He said: 'While there are some public officials who will seek to use the power of government to compel uniformity and adherence to their preferred course of conduct, that approach is not in keeping with Florida values.

Protesters campaign against mask mandates outside a school board meeting in Hillsborough County in Tampa, Florida, on Tuesday, with pro-mask schools and parents now on a collision course with the state itself 

'Gov. DeSantis recognizes that parents are in the best position to make choices for their children. His actions today demonstrate his faith and trust in our fellow Floridians, and he – and they – have my full support.'

And Florida Senate President Wilton Simpson, who is also a Republican, hailed the governor for letting parents decide for themselves whether to make their children wear masks.

He said: 'I trust Florida parents to evaluate all of the information available and make the best decision about whether their children will be wearing a mask when they return to school next month

DeSantis - a close ally of Donald Trump, and possible future GOP presidential candidate - lifted all Florida's remaining COVID restrictions in May.

In June, he signed a bill into law that prohibits individual counties within Florida from imposing any new rules.   

The governor also said Friday that he has no plans to re-enact a state of emergency, even though Florida leads the US with new COVID infections.

COVID infections are rising again in Florida, with 17,589 new cases reported on Thursday. Deaths have remained relatively flat, with half of all residents fully-vaccinated 

It is currently responsible for around 20 per cent of all new diagnoses in the United States.  

Florida recorded 17,589 new COVID cases on July 29, up from an average of around 2,000 cases a day in mid-June. 

Daily COVID deaths in the state have remained relatively static in recent months, with 56 people losing their lives to the virus on Thursday.

Just under half - 48 per cent - of Floridians are fully vaccinated against COVID. A slightly higher number - 57 per cent - have received at least one dose of a COVID vaccine.

Arguments about masks and vaccination rules have become the latest flashpoint in the ongoing argument over how to tackle COVID in the US.

The CDC is now urging fully-vaccinated Americans to consider wearing a mask indoors if they are in a high-transmission area.

Their guidance was updated after new outbreaks showed that people who have completed their jab can still catch 'breakthrough' cases of COVID thanks to the Delta variant.  

President Biden has since ordered draconian new rules to try and encourage federal government staff to get vaccinated, including weekly testing, mask-wearing and social distancing for people who haven't taken the shot. 

He has been accused of undermining confidence in vaccines with the measure, just two months after telling people who'd been jabbed they could take off their masks and relax.

The president has defended his latest pronouncements, insisting the explosion in Delta variant cases have left him with no other choice.