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The Florida government could impose heavy fines on more than 100 entities for violating its ban on requiring proof of vaccination against Covid-19, the Orlando Sentry reports, including local governments, organizations, concerts, and large corporations like cruise lines, AT&T, and Starbucks.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis holds a press conference August 16 in Orlando, Florida.
SOPA Images / LightRocket via Getty Images
Highlights
The Florida Department of Health has 120 cases listed as “under review” for potentially violating its policy, according to a document published in Sentinel in response to a request for public records.
The list includes the Miami Marlins and big companies like Live Nation, AT&T, Equinox, Starbucks, Allegiant Airlines (at St. Petersburg / Clearwater airport only) and AdventHealth.
Event venues in Florida like the House of Blues and theaters are also named, as well as specific events like concerts by Harry Styles, Maroon 5, Zac Brown, David Aldean, and Brooks and Dunn.
Disney Cruise Line, Carnival Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean are also listed after cruise lines issued Covid-19 vaccine warrants, although the state has already said so Forbes he will not pursue the charges against them until an appeals court rules on Norwegian Cruise Line’s lawsuit against the state’s vaccine passport ban.
The state is also pursuing potential charges against local governments in Gainesville, Leon County and Orange County, where Orlando is located.
The Florida Department of Health has yet to respond to a request for comment.
What to watch out for
If companies, governments or organizations are found to have violated state policy, the law states that the state can impose fines of $ 5,000 for each person who has been asked for proof of vaccination. This could add up to millions of dollars in fines for even smaller businesses, although any business that incurs fines can challenge them in court. A federal district court has already ruled against Florida’s policy in Norwegian’s lawsuit, ruling that the cruise line should be allowed to require proof of vaccination and that Florida “does not provide valid, factual or legal evidence. Explaining why his ban on vaccine proof is necessary.
Surprising fact
The Walt Disney Company requires Covid-19 vaccines for all of its employees, including at Walt Disney World in Florida, which is the largest single-site employer in the United States, but only Disney Cruise Line is listed as being in progress. ‘exam.
Key context
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a law banning so-called vaccine passports in May and said in September his administration intended to issue fines to any local government that imposed vaccination warrants. Florida law prevents companies from requiring proof of vaccination but does not prohibit requiring vaccinations themselves, only saying that companies should not require people to provide documentation of their vaccination. The SentinelThe investigated entities report comes after Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings said in late September that his office received a letter from the state suggesting he was moving from before with fines. The state health department argued that the county’s vaccine mandate was a “discriminatory policy” that “violates the basic rights and privacy of Floridians,” even if any worker who violates the policy by not getting vaccinated will only face a written reprimand and will not be fired. Demings said the county will take the state to court over any penalties imposed against it.
Further reading
Florida ‘vaccine passport’ probes target Harry Styles concert, library and counterterrorism team (Orlando Sentinel)
Florida Moves Forward Punishing Local Governments For Vaccine Mandates (Forbes)
Disney demands cruise passengers in Bahamas get vaccinated against Covid-19 (Forbes)
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