WEATHER ALERT
Masks are out at In-N-Out after burger chain bans employees from wearing them in five states
Read full article: Masks are out at In-N-Out after burger chain bans employees from wearing them in five statesIn-N-Out will bar employees in five states from wearing masks unless they have a doctor’s note, according to internal company emails leaked on social media last week.
Boston urges masks as battle brews over transit rule
Read full article: Boston urges masks as battle brews over transit ruleBoston has urged people to start wearing masks, and the Biden administration is weighing its next legal step in a court fight over the abrupt end of the national mask mandate on airplanes and mass transit.
As buses, trains, Uber drop mask mandates, doctors say keep masks on
Read full article: As buses, trains, Uber drop mask mandates, doctors say keep masks onSince the national mask mandate was overturned, several companies have announced face coverings are now optional in their facilities and on their public transportation.
Southwest passenger refusing to wear mask arrested after threatening Orlando police, officers say
Read full article: Southwest passenger refusing to wear mask arrested after threatening Orlando police, officers sayA Louisiana man was taken off a Southwest flight at Orlando International Airport Thursday after he reportedly became irate over being forced to wear a mask, according to an arrest affidavit.
New CDC guidelines mean less masks. Here’s what you need to know
Read full article: New CDC guidelines mean less masks. Here’s what you need to knowThe Biden administration will significantly loosen federal mask-wearing guidelines to protect against COVID-19 transmission on Friday, according to two people familiar with the matter.
Florida Gov. DeSantis lines up with House on plan to penalize school districts for mask mandates
Read full article: Florida Gov. DeSantis lines up with House on plan to penalize school districts for mask mandatesGov. Ron DeSantis appeared to do an about-face on his initial opposition to a House plan that would shift $200 million away from school districts that required students to wear masks last year during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fresco y Más, Harveys Supermarket, Winn-Dixie pharmacies to distribute free N95 masks
Read full article: Fresco y Más, Harveys Supermarket, Winn-Dixie pharmacies to distribute free N95 masksFresco y Más, Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie pharmacies are set to distribute over two million free N95 masks as early as Friday, according to Southeastern Grocers.
Brevard school acknowledges putting mask on girl with Down syndrome, police find no crime committed
Read full article: Brevard school acknowledges putting mask on girl with Down syndrome, police find no crime committedAfter the story of a 7-year-old girl with Down syndrome having a mask tied onto her face while at school in Brevard County gained national attention, an investigation by Indian Harbor Beach police found there was no evidence to suggest that the mask being tied to the girl constituted some form of child abuse.
WATCH LIVE: Gov. Ron DeSantis holds news conference in Brandon
Read full article: WATCH LIVE: Gov. Ron DeSantis holds news conference in BrandonRebuking the Biden administration, Florida’s Republican-controlled Legislature on Wednesday passed a measure that seeks to prevent workers from being required to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
Florida inches closer to legal battle with feds over school mask penalties
Read full article: Florida inches closer to legal battle with feds over school mask penaltiesTop Florida education officials inched closer to a legal battle with the Biden administration over federal reimbursements for school districts that were dinged financially by the state for imposing student mask mandates during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Florida GOP moves to combat vaccine mandates, virus rules during special session
Read full article: Florida GOP moves to combat vaccine mandates, virus rules during special sessionFlorida lawmakers begin debating a package of bills to combat coronavirus vaccine mandates, continuing Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis' fight against virus rules.
Judge backs Florida, rejects challenge on student mask mandates
Read full article: Judge backs Florida, rejects challenge on student mask mandatesAn administrative law judge Friday rejected a challenge to a state Department of Health rule designed to prevent student mask requirements during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Parental opt-out for masks in Orange County schools takes effect
Read full article: Parental opt-out for masks in Orange County schools takes effectFor the first time since the beginning of the school year, parents have the ability to choose if their child wears a mask at Orange County Public Schools.
Court cites ‘defiance’ by Florida districts on school masks
Read full article: Court cites ‘defiance’ by Florida districts on school masksAn appeals court Friday signaled it thinks school officials in Alachua and Duval counties have violated state law by requiring students to wear masks during the COVID-19 pandemic and ordered lower courts to quickly take up the issue.
Florida’s top doctor blames inability to ‘communicate clearly’ for mask refusal
Read full article: Florida’s top doctor blames inability to ‘communicate clearly’ for mask refusalFlorida's surgeon general, Joseph Ladapo, is now responding days after he was asked to leave a meeting with Democratic state Sen. Tina Polsky — who was recently diagnosed with breast cancer — because he refused to wear a mask.
School mask policies changing throughout Central Florida as transmission declines
Read full article: School mask policies changing throughout Central Florida as transmission declinesChanges are coming when it comes to school mask policies. Seminole County’s Medical Director Dr. Todd Husty said with lower levels of transmission and positivity rates, people are making personal decisions when it comes to masks.
Some parents push for extension of Orange County school mask mandate, others protest it
Read full article: Some parents push for extension of Orange County school mask mandate, others protest itA group of parents, teachers and local politicians gathered outside the Orange County School Board Monday to urge district leaders to extend mask requirements in the classroom.
Florida seeks permanent ban on school mask mandates
Read full article: Florida seeks permanent ban on school mask mandatesThe Florida Department of Health on Friday proposed a long-term rule to try to prevent school mask mandates and give parents more authority to decide whether children who have been exposed to COVID-19 should be able to attend school.
Florida sends Brevard school board 48-hour notice to comply with mask mandate rules
Read full article: Florida sends Brevard school board 48-hour notice to comply with mask mandate rulesThe Florida Board of Education sends a formal notice to the Brevard County School Board, giving the district 48 hours to comply with state student mask mandate rules.
State targets Orange, Brevard, 6 other school districts over mask requirements
Read full article: State targets Orange, Brevard, 6 other school districts over mask requirementsThe State Board of Education on Thursday ratcheted up discipline against eight county school boards that have maintained student mask mandates to try to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Brevard County Schools approves mask opt-out option if COVID-19 spread lessens
Read full article: Brevard County Schools approves mask opt-out option if COVID-19 spread lessensThe Brevard County School Board voted Tuesday 3-2 in favor of transitioning to a policy that would give parents the choice to opt-out their children from the districtwide mask mandate.
The Latest: Washington state to give Pfizer boosters to some
Read full article: The Latest: Washington state to give Pfizer boosters to someThe Washington state Department of Health says it will immediately start offering booster doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to certain people after recommendations from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and other groups.
Osceola schools make no changes to mask mandate, Brevard implements masks for all students
Read full article: Osceola schools make no changes to mask mandate, Brevard implements masks for all studentsThe Osceola County School board decided to not make any changes to their 30-day mask mandate after a heated debate during a board meeting on Monday.
Closing arguments set in Florida’s school mask policy legal fight
Read full article: Closing arguments set in Florida’s school mask policy legal fightA hearing in a high-profile lawsuit challenging Gov. Ron DeSantis’ executive order aimed at preventing local school boards from imposing student mask mandates is ready for closing arguments on Thursday.
Florida attorneys begin making their case in mask mandate lawsuit
Read full article: Florida attorneys begin making their case in mask mandate lawsuitAttorneys for Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday began calling witnesses to back the state’s case against allowing school districts to impose student mask mandates, as a hearing continued in a lawsuit challenging a DeSantis executive order.
Pressure is mounting for Orange County Public Schools as parents, teachers call for mask mandate
Read full article: Pressure is mounting for Orange County Public Schools as parents, teachers call for mask mandateOutside of the Orange County Public School headquarters, pressure is mounting for the school board to enact mask mandates with no option of opting out as parents, teachers and educators call for a mask mandate.
Big Florida school districts defy governor over mask mandate
Read full article: Big Florida school districts defy governor over mask mandateHillsborough and Miami-Dade counties have become the third and fourth school districts in Florida to adopt stricter mask mandates, a day after school boards in Broward and Alachua counties faced threats of severe penalties for defying Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration, which says parents should decide whether their children wear masks.
Florida education board found ‘probable cause’ school districts broke state law with mask rules
Read full article: Florida education board found ‘probable cause’ school districts broke state law with mask rulesThe board, during an emergency meeting, voted to direct state Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran to “investigate” the actions of Alachua County and Broward County school officials.
Florida Education Commissioner ramps up threat to school officials over masks
Read full article: Florida Education Commissioner ramps up threat to school officials over masksState Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran reiterated DeSantis’ position that parents should be able to decide whether children wear masks.
Orange County school superintendent orders students wear masks for 30 days
Read full article: Orange County school superintendent orders students wear masks for 30 daysOrange County Public Schools Superintendent Barbara Jenkins is ordering all students to wear masks in schools for 30 days starting on the first day of school, Aug. 10.
Florida OKs school vouchers for students who oppose masks
Read full article: Florida OKs school vouchers for students who oppose masksFlorida’s Board of Education decided Friday to provide private school vouchers to parents who say a public school district’s mask-wearing requirements amount to harassment of their children.
Here’s where things stand in Florida when it comes to students wearing masks
Read full article: Here’s where things stand in Florida when it comes to students wearing masksLast week, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed an executive order banning mandates and reinforcing a parent’s right to choose whether their child wears a mask in school.
Florida school district flip-flops over mask mandate, awaits guidance on DeSantis order
Read full article: Florida school district flip-flops over mask mandate, awaits guidance on DeSantis orderA Florida school district is “waiting for guidance” after reversing its initial mask mandate due to the governor’s executive order that bans mandates and threatens to cut funding from districts that do not comply.
Orange County schools to require masks for employees
Read full article: Orange County schools to require masks for employeesAs hospitalizations and COVID-19 cases continue to surge statewide, Central Florida’s largest school district announced days before students return to the classroom that it will require its employees to wear masks.
Florida school district defies DeSantis, issues mask mandate due to COVID-19 surge
Read full article: Florida school district defies DeSantis, issues mask mandate due to COVID-19 surgeDespite a Florida executive order banning mask mandates in schools, one Florida school district is moving forward with mask requirements.
NASCAR to require masks in enclosed areas going forward
Read full article: NASCAR to require masks in enclosed areas going forwardBeginning this weekend at Watkins Glen International, NASCAR will require all personnel to wear a face mask in enclosed areas at all times, regardless of vaccination status.
Restaurant in Orlando’s Ivanhoe Village requiring customers to wear masks indoors
Read full article: Restaurant in Orlando’s Ivanhoe Village requiring customers to wear masks indoorsWith COVID-19 cases on the rise, The Hammered Lamb in Orlando's Ivanhoe Village is once again asking its customers to wear masks while inside the restaurant.
Publix orders employees to wear masks in store, regardless of vaccination status
Read full article: Publix orders employees to wear masks in store, regardless of vaccination statusPublix is ordering its employees to return to wearing masks inside its stores regardless of their vaccination status, according to a spokesperson.
Masks are optional in Orange County schools but strongly encouraged for coming school year
Read full article: Masks are optional in Orange County schools but strongly encouraged for coming school yearThe debate over wearing masks in schools continues to be an issue as the beginning of the semester approaches.
CDC changes COVID-19 testing guidelines for vaccinated in light of delta variant
Read full article: CDC changes COVID-19 testing guidelines for vaccinated in light of delta variantThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its COVID-19 testing guidelines for vaccinated individuals as more data reveals the transmissibility of the delta variant.
Orange County mayor declares local state of emergency amid rising COVID-19 hospitalizations, infections
Read full article: Orange County mayor declares local state of emergency amid rising COVID-19 hospitalizations, infectionsOrange County Mayor Jerry Demings signed an executive order Wednesday declaring a local state of emergency.
Orlando residents react to new CDC push to have everyone wear masks indoors
Read full article: Orlando residents react to new CDC push to have everyone wear masks indoorsResidents and business owners in Orlando are reacting to revised masking guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Orange County announces changes to COVID-19 rules, guidelines
Read full article: Orange County announces changes to COVID-19 rules, guidelinesAs Florida sees a surge in new COVID-19 cases, Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings plans to take action to slow the spread of the virus in Central Florida's most populous county.
Orange County teachers union pushes for another change to district mask policy
Read full article: Orange County teachers union pushes for another change to district mask policyThe Orange County teachers union has called for a change to the mask policy that was just voted on one week ago by the Orange County school board.
Vaccinated guests can soon ditch masks at Disney World. Here’s when the change starts
Read full article: Vaccinated guests can soon ditch masks at Disney World. Here’s when the change startsWalt Disney World updated its mask guidelines for guests on Friday, allowing those fully vaccinated to go maskless in the parks.
Osceola County school district plans to make masks optional starting July 1
Read full article: Osceola County school district plans to make masks optional starting July 1The Osceola County school board decided Tuesday to make masks optional for all students, parents and employees in district buildings starting July 1.
Universal Orlando will no longer require masks indoors for fully vaccinated guests
Read full article: Universal Orlando will no longer require masks indoors for fully vaccinated guestsFully vaccinated guests at Universal Orlando will no longer be required to wear masks indoors starting Saturday, according to the resort.
Brevard school board decides to make masks optional once school year ends
Read full article: Brevard school board decides to make masks optional once school year endsFollowing a meeting Friday morning, Brevard Public Schools voted to make masks optional once the school year ends at the beginning of June.
Volusia County school district debates making masks optional
Read full article: Volusia County school district debates making masks optionalDeLAND, Fla. – The Volusia County school board held a workshop Tuesday where the county health department gave it suggestions on its mask mandate but the decision is still up for debate. Patricia Boswell, director of the county health department, told the board the mandate should stay in place for now. Elizabeth Albert, President of the Volusia United Educators union, said masks are one of the teachers’ only lines of defense and not enough have been fully vaccinated yet. She hopes the board will re-evaluate the mask policy at the end of summer school. AdTo keep up with the latest news on the pandemic, subscribe to News 6′s coronavirus newsletter and go to ClickOrlando.com/coronavirus.
Seminole County leaders debate future of mask mandate
Read full article: Seminole County leaders debate future of mask mandateSEMINOLE COUNT, Fla. – As more people get vaccinated, elected leaders in Seminole County are demanding answers about mask mandates. Seminole County Commissioners discussed the county’s mask mandate Tuesday asking tough questions about ways to move forward and looking for a better timeline for the county’s COVID-19 response. County Manager Nicole Guillet said they’ve invited medical experts and have been in touch with them during the pandemic. Ad“Both advisory groups have advised Seminole County not to adjust the mitigation efforts that are currently in place,” Harris said. Harris said the plan is to bring more medical advisors to the next commission meeting to better clarify where things stand.
Men posed as US marshals to avoid wearing face masks at Florida resort, officials say
Read full article: Men posed as US marshals to avoid wearing face masks at Florida resort, officials sayOfficers and a real U.S. marshal arrived and arrested the men on charges of impersonating a federal officer. They told investigators an employee gave Brown Jr. a mask and asked him to wear it. AdThe next day, Brown Jr. returned to the front desk to extend his stay. Investigators learned the men had ever been employed as U.S. marshals or by the Cherokee Nation Marshal Service, the complaint said. The facemask exempt cards the men wore around their necks were also fake, according to the complaint.
What’s with the confusion over masks and the coronavirus? We explain
Read full article: What’s with the confusion over masks and the coronavirus? We explainHealth authorities have changed their guidance on who should wear masks and when to wear them. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has long advised people to wear masks because they help prevent people who are infected — whether they know it or not — from spreading the coronavirus. But when BOTH people are wearing masks, that produced the best result. For example, study participants who were supposed to wear masks sometimes didn’t. The president also held rallies that brought together thousands of supporters, most of them not wearing masks.
Woman makes 700 masks for her community, complete with welcoming front-yard display
Read full article: Woman makes 700 masks for her community, complete with welcoming front-yard displayStill, creating 700 face masks seems to transcend just “the basics,” wouldn’t you say? Moore’s personal project started in April, when Gleaners Community Food Bank asked for help from the community in making face masks for the group’s volunteers, and Moore decided she would lend a hand. Now she estimates she’s made hundreds of face masks for anyone who needs one. She uses some basic patterns and others that are a little more fun, and said she’s working on 50 Halloween-themed masks at the moment. When COVID-19 started, Moore was laid off for three months, so she had some extra time on her hands.
Cocoa Beach ends mask mandate but businesses can still require face coverings
Read full article: Cocoa Beach ends mask mandate but businesses can still require face coveringsCOCOA BEACH, Fla. – Kenne Wells said she is not changing the mask requirement at her store, the Coastal Market, after the City of Cocoa Beach ended its mask mandate on Monday. Wells said she’s making a new sign for her customers, so they know they still have to wear a mask inside the market. Even though the city won’t require masks anymore, businesses can still require face coverings. The change comes after city leaders saw a drop in positive COVID-19 cases and because the governor no longer allows cities to fine people not wearing masks. Since the pandemic started I’ve lived inside, bubble boy, and it doesn’t show any signs of stopping,” Viola said.
Wearing a creative or fun face mask? We want to see
Read full article: Wearing a creative or fun face mask? We want to seeThis time last year, we were beginning to talk about what kinds of fun costumes and masks we might wear for Halloween. Nowadays, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues, masks are an every day, everywhere kind of thing. In an effort to fight the spread of the coronavirus, masks have been mandated for wear in plenty of places, so perhaps your mask has become second nature. That not only makes it a little more fun for those wearing the masks, but for us who are out people-watching (and unable to actually see people’s faces). And perhaps you just might give some others some fun ideas to work with.
Face masks required: Not in all U.S. schools, but it’s happening in Spain
Read full article: Face masks required: Not in all U.S. schools, but it’s happening in SpainMADRID – Masks will be mandatory for all students in Spain, ages 6 or older, when returning to schools in September because of increased coronavirus cases, the government announced Thursday. Previously, masks were only required for students above age 12 by some Spanish regions. Students will receive a daily body temperature check, must wash hands at least five times per day and classrooms will need frequent ventilation, the government said. That allows localized quarantines if there’s a positive test, rather than closing entire schools. Parents and teachers have expressed concern, with new waves of outbreaks since the country emerged from a strict lockdown.
‘I can already hear the whining:’ Florida sheriff bans masks for deputies
Read full article: ‘I can already hear the whining:’ Florida sheriff bans masks for deputiesOCALA, Fla. – A central Florida sheriff says his deputies won’t be allowed to wear face masks except under some conditions, and neither will visitors to the sheriff’s office. On Wednesday, Florida reported 213 new coronavirus deaths. In these situations, the mask should be removed when giving orders or commands to comply, the sheriff said. At the sheriff’s office, masks won’t be allowed so that visitors can be easily identified and there is clear communication, the sheriff said. The sheriff’s decision came as the county’s largest city, Ocala, about 80 miles (130 kilometers) northwest of Orlando, was debating implementing a face mask mandate.
This Florida city has issued $14,400 in fines to mask violators
Read full article: This Florida city has issued $14,400 in fines to mask violatorsMIAMI BEACH, Fla. – Police and city officials in Miami Beach have issued $14,400 in fines to people who weren't wearing facial coverings to help stop the spread of COVID-19. The city has issued 288 $50 fines since July 23, the newspaper reported. Body-camera footage from Miami Beach Code Compliance captured three stops from July 23, which offers a glimpse into how the city enforces its order, the newspaper reported. Each inspection began the same way, with a code officer taking a photo of the alleged violator, and then approaching to ask for ID to write the ticket. “I didn’t know you needed it (outdoors).”In Miami-Dade County, a similar ordinance issued July 16 comes with a $100 fine.
Couple wears swastika masks in Minnesota Walmart
Read full article: Couple wears swastika masks in Minnesota WalmartMARSHALL, Minn. – A couple in Minnesota wore red face masks emblazoned with swastikas to a Walmart in a video posted on social media. Another shopper, Raphaela Mueller, who is a vicar of a southwest Minnesota parish, posted video on Facebook of the man and woman being confronted by others in the store, the Star Tribune reported. Walmart already requires customers to wear masks at its namesake and Sam's Club stores. The individuals became belligerent and were asked to leave the store by store management,” Walmart said. The couple’s trespass ban is for at least a year and applies to all Walmart stores, the company said.
Major retailers requiring customers to wear masks in stores
Read full article: Major retailers requiring customers to wear masks in storesIf you need help with the Public File, call 407-291-6000. Copyright © 2020 ClickOrlando.com is managed by Graham Digital and pubished by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings.