Ron DeSantis' push to stop school mask mandates is plowing ahead despite a legal challenge from parents, with education officials enacting a rule to protect non-masked students from “COVID-19 harassment”
that offers parents vouchers to send their children to private schools or even a different school district other counties if they object to masks.
The Republican governor has made his resistance to mandates and lockdowns central to his appeal as he marches toward reelection and an expected presidential bid in 2024. But his policies are under increased scrutiny amid the spike in cases statewide. On Friday, Florida reported more than 22,000 new infections, the highest single-day number since the pandemic started.
“If we see a school district who is either unwilling or unable to comply with the law, then we the state board, we have certain authority of either withholding state funds or other tools in our toolbox,” Gibson said Friday. The state defined Covid-19 harassment as wide range of threatening or discriminatory actions that a student could suffer from due to school Covid-19 protocols, including masking, isolating non-masked students, and testing requirements.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Met Gala will require attendees to have COVID-19 vaccines and wear face masksThe 2021 Met Gala is requiring attendees to wear face masks and have COVID-19 vaccinations.
Read more »
Amid Delta Surge, Major Companies Mandate Masks, VaccinesThe surge of Delta variant COVID-19 cases is driving companies to revise their rules for masks and vaccinations for both employees and customers.
Read more »
Florida Shatters Records For New Covid Cases And Hospitalizations As Gov. DeSantis Resists Calls For New RestrictionsDeSantis is actively working to prevent Florida localities and schools from enacting restrictions, and has called claims of a health crisis in the state a 'media hysteria.'
Read more »
Florida Gov. DeSantis attacks Biden: ‘I don’t want to hear a blip about COVID from you’FORT LAUDEREDALE, Fla. — Gov. Ron DeSantis, facing the Florida surge in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, delivered extraordinary and impassioned remarks on the issue Wednesday — attacking President Joe Biden. “This is a guy who ran for president saying he was going to quote ‘shut down the virus.’ And what has he done? He’s imported more virus from around the world, by having a wide open ...
Read more »
A Texas GOP official who mocked vaccines and pushed anti-mask content died from COVID-19Business Insider tells the global tech, finance, markets, media, healthcare, and strategy stories you want to know.
Read more »
Amazon resumes mask mandate in warehouses as Covid delta variant spreadsThe company had previously said warehouse workers could ditch their masks indoors if they were fully vaccinated.
Read more »