Jerry Demings

Orange County's positivity rate for the virus has tripled to 14% from about 4.3% a month ago. Mayor Jerry Demings also said the region's hospitals are approaching capacity.

Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings says he’d like to enforce a mask mandate but can't because an executive order by Gov. Ron DeSantis that outlaws local government restrictions.

Orange County’s first phase of lifting its mask mandate begins immediately. Social distancing in public places is now reduced from six feet to three feet.

Mayor Jerry Demings, while noting demand for the vaccine has slowed, says decisions will be based on data and science.

It took 13 minutes to fill the available spots for the county-run drive-thru location at the Orange County Convention Center, the first site in Florida to open eligibility to residents 40 and over.

Mayor Jerry Demings says the decision came after consulting with nearby Lake, Osceola and Seminole counties and representatives of the White House and the state.

Mayor Jerry Demings says the hotel where the Conservative Political Action Conference met did its very best to comply with COVID-19 restrictions.

Mayor Jerry Demings says he’s already activated the compliance strike teams to monitor bars and clubs in the community this weekend.

The county's health director says the order can help lessen the stress on health care workers and assets, such as ICUs and ventilators.

Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings reports that patrons insulted strike team members and some bar owners were "less than cooperative."