Fried calls on WH to stop Florida from withholding funds from school districts with mask mandates
On Friday, Florida Agriculture Commission Fried called on the White House to continue backfilling school district budgets to make up for financial sanctions about to be imposed by the commissioner of education.
As DeSantis pressures school districts on COVID-19 policy, Biden administration replaces withheld state funds
In its latest emergency rule issued Wednesday, the Florida Department of Education renewed pressure on local school boards to refrain from mandating face masks without a parental option to opt-out, something at least 10 school districts have done anyway.
Congresswoman: โFlorida is ground zero for UK variantโ
variant,โ could lead to a โrapid riseโ in COVID-19 cases and become the dominant strain in the United States by March. On Wednesday, health officials with the University of Florida spoke about the variant cases in Florida. Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz said she wants Gov. โSo far one in nine Americans have been vaccinated and weโre on track to have half the nation vaccinated by the end of this spring,โ Wasserman Schultz said. AdWasserman Schultz said Florida is ground zero for the U.K. variant and said there has been a lack of transparency by DeSantis.
President Biden signs โ100 days mask challenge,โ mandating masks in federal buildings
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ In one of his first acts as President, Joe Biden signed an executive order, requiring masks on federal property. RELATED: Read the full mandate hereThe Presidentโ canโt force cities and states to impose mask mandates, but can control what happens on federal property. President Biden signed his first executive order, called the โ100 days masking challenge.โ It directs federal agencies to comply with C-D-C guidelines on mask-wearing and physical distancing and it applies to federal buildings, federal lands. When it comes to military bases, the executive order would be a major change. In our region, the local areas that are not under a mask mandate, nearly everywhere except Jacksonville, are most likely to notice changes.
Mask mandate gaining bipartisan support in Florida
The newest wave of infections is reigniting calls for a statewide mask mandate in Florida and the idea is now garnering bipartisan support. State Rep. Mike Caruso, R-Delray Beach, has joined with Democrats who have been calling for a mandate since the early days of the coronavirus pandemic. Ron DeSantis to issue a statewide mask mandate back in June. Tampaโs โChoose Your Maskโ campaign is pushing a flier that implies the choice between wearing a face mask or ventilator. Rep. Caruso has said he intends to push his fellow Republicans to enact a statewide mask mandate in the 2021 session, but a legislative mask mandate would have to survive the governorโs veto pen.
Fernandina Beach extends mask mandate through Dec. 6
The Fernandina Beach City Commission on Wednesday voted to extend its mask mandate through Dec. 6. That means everyone over the age of 6 must continue wearing a face mask or face covering while in public indoor spaces, including employees and customers at businesses within city limits. There are, however, exceptions for certain cases such as people dining at a restaurant or a patient visiting the dentist. The order does not apply to first responders and other public safety personnel. In September, the Nassau County Board of Commissioners voted 3-2 to halt its own countywide mask mandate, except within county buildings.
Mayor extends Jacksonville mask mandate for 30 days
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ Jacksonvilleโs mask mandate due to expire Tuesday has been extended through Thanksgiving, according to city officials. It must be renewed every 30 days by Mayor Lenny Curry or it will expire. Iโm just going to back away ... and give you my 6 feet," Scott told him. Jacksonville Dr. Sunil Joshi said that with flu season here, this would have been the worst time to end the mask mandate. He said for those with โmask fatigueโ -- wearing a mask could help ensure good hospital treatment for other emergencies.
Fernandina Beach extends its mask mandate
The Fernandina Beach City Commission voted Tuesday to extend its mask mandate another month, even as Nassau County officials have lifted a similar mandate. That means everyone over the age of 6 must continue wearing a face mask or face covering while in public indoor spaces, including employees and customers at businesses within city limits. RELATED: Nassau County commissioners vote to lift mask mandateThere are, however, exceptions for certain cases such as people dining at a restaurant or a patient visiting the dentist. The cityโs extension comes two weeks after the Nassau County Board of Commissioners voted 3-2 to halt its own countywide mask mandate, except within county buildings. Notably, the board left the door open to bringing back the mask mandate in the event that COVID-19 cases spike.
Florida representative announces lawsuit over Jacksonville mask mandate
Florida representative announces lawsuit over Jacksonville mask mandatePublished: July 6, 2020, 5:38 pmAnthony Sabatini, a Republican member of the Florida Legislature, announced Monday morning that he has filed a lawsuit against the City of Jacksonville over the recently implemented mask mandate.
Florida representative announces lawsuit over Jacksonville mask mandate
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ Anthony Sabatini, a Republican member of the Florida Legislature, announced Monday morning that he has filed a lawsuit against the City of Jacksonville over the recently implemented mask mandate. Sabatini on Twitter said the lawsuit was filed on behalf of a small business owner for โunlawfullyโ mandating through proclimation that anyone in a public space must wear a face mask. He has similar lawsuits in St. Johns County, Hillsborough County and Orange County. Jacksonville has become a focus for the face mask debate as officials prepare to host the Republican National Convention in August, an event expected to attract thousands of people. The nonpartisan group has been raising money on GoFundMe so it can file a lawsuit against Duval County to nullify Mayor Lenny Curryโs mask mandate.
Councilman who battled COVID-19 says mask mandate โa good first stepโ
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ Less than 48 hours into Jacksonvilleโs mask mandate, City Council President Tommy Hazouri convened an emergency City Council meeting to ask questions of Mayor Lenny Curry and other Jacksonville leaders. The mayor, who was noticeably absent during a Monday news briefing announcing Executive Proclamation 2020-005, addressed City Council from where he is spending scheduled vacation time with his family. Newby said the ordinance is โa good first step.โAs the ordinance stands now, masks are required indoors when a person cannot social distance. In restaurants, customers are required to wear a mask into the restaurant unless seated at a table to eat. Residents werenโt given any more direction on compliance with the mandate other than city leaders asking residents to โdo the right thing.โ
Nassau County commissioners approve mask mandate
After consulting with the director of the Nassau County Health Department, commissioners reviewed the mask requirement of Martin County but postponed a vote on the issue, saying they needed more time to make a decision. County Manager Mike Mullin questioned how, without a mandatory mask mandate, businesses can keep their employees and customers safe from people from the public who come in not wearing masks. Earlier this week, a St. Johns County commissioner added a discussion of a mask mandate to their special meeting on Tuesday. Last Friday, the city of St. Augustine passed a mask mandate for inside buildings open to the public where people cannot socially distance. As of late, Nassau County has increased its measures to enforce coronavirus precautions.
St. Johns County to discuss mask mandate this morning
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. St. Johns County could be the next in Northeast Florida to require masks due to the spread of the coronavirus. Neighboring Duval County put a mask mandate in effect Monday evening, following a string of record, or near-record days of new coronavirus cases. St. Johns County is also struggling to keep its number of cases down. According to state date, St Johns has a positivity rate of 10-percent. The mandate is expected to be brought up by Commissioner Henry Dean.
Nationโs oldest city becomes first in Northeast Florida to require masks
In response to the rapid increase of COVID-19 cases in Florida and in St. Johns County, City Manager John Regan prepared the resolution and requested the emergency City Commission meeting Friday morning. READ: Resolution by St. Augustine city manager and city attorneyRegan told the commission that several businesses have been forced to close because of the coronavirus and have asked the city to require masks and that more than 80% of 336 emails the city received supported the face-covering requirement. Matt Stevens, general manager of the St. Augustine Distillery, said every member of his staff wears a mask and they have handed them out to visitors all along. If youโre older or for sick people -- itโs more important for sick people,โ said Cheyenne, who was visiting St. Augustine from Franklin, Georgia. Read Lauren Vernoโs Trust Index story to learn whatโs real and whatโs not about the benefits of wearing face masks.