Orange County

Mayor Jerry Demings says the rolling 14-day positivity rate for Orange County is at about 5%, with 74% of eligible residents vaccinated with at least one dose.

The vaccinated employees include 95 percent who are nonunion and about 75 percent in a union. Mayor Jerry Demings says workers who showed proof of vaccination by Thursday will receive a day off.

Mayor Jerry Demings says the county is on firm legal ground regarding its COVID vaccine mandate because employees who don’t get the shot can receive only a written reprimand, not termination.

WMFE's Joe Byrnes spoke with Wendy Doromal, president of the Orange County Classroom Teachers Association, about the recent loosening of COVID-19 precautions.

Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings has announced a cap on disciplinary actions that can be taken against county employees who aren't fully vaccinated by Halloween.

Dr. Raul Pino of the county health department would not give any details about the death other than that the victim was younger than 1 year old.

DeSantis said a new law allowing him to invalidate local emergency measures gives him the power to issue the fines, although the measure does not prohibit requiring workers from getting the shot.

The districts are challenging the department's authority to issue the parental opt-out rule and argue the wording does not prevent them from requiring medical exemptions from wearing masks.

Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran says the Hillsborough, Sarasota, Orange and Duval districts are noncompliant with a health department rule triggered by a governor's ban on local mandates.

The county’s 14-day rolling positivity rate has dipped a bit, offering a sliver of hope as the death toll continues to rise. Also, the mayor is extending a deadline for county employees to be vaccinated.