JERRY DEMINGS

With tourism continuing to bounce back in Central Florida, local leaders remain hopeful for a full economic recovery.

ORLANDO, Fla. — Get ready to celebrate Walt Disney World Day. On Friday, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer will be joined by city commissioners, Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings and other elected officials to present an official proclamation to Walt Disney World Resort. The proclamation will honor the resort’s 50th anniversary and declare Friday as Walt Disney World Day. Walt Disney World President Jeff Vahle will receive the official proclamation. READ: New Cirque du Soleil show ‘Drawn to Life’ takes flight at Disney Springs“For 50 years, Walt Disney World Resort has served as a beacon of hope and happiness in the Central Florida area, bringing the beloved magic found across the resort to children and families in our neighboring communities,” a news release states.

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Health officials in Orange County said they’re working on a way to test wastewater for the omicron variant of COVID-19. Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 11 Omicron COVID-19 variant On Nov. 26, the World Health Organization classified a new variant, B.1.1.529, as a “variant of concern” and named it omicron. (WFTV.com News Staff)Utilities department officials said the variant has more mutations than past ones have had, meaning getting answers may take longer. READ: Omicron COVID-19 variant & vaccines: What you need to knowCounty Mayor Jerry Demings said they’re getting a test ready that will be able to detect whether or not the omicron variant is showing up in Orange County wastewater. READ: Coronavirus: First case of omicron variant discovered in USThere’s no timeline on when the specific variant test will be made available.

Orange County and the city of Orlando honored Walt Disney World for its efforts in the Central Florida community on Friday.

Mayor Jerry Demings Channel 9 anchor Christian Bruey sat down one-on-one with Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings, and asked if there are plans in place to address another rise in cases. Channel 9 anchor Christian Bruey sat down one-on-one with Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings, and asked if there are plans in place to address another rise in cases. “We certainly received a lot of counsel from people like Dr. Raul Pino with the Florida Department of Health in Orange County. But we had internal physicians and experts here within Orange County government.”READ: What’s open/closed on Thanksgiving; Black Friday hours for Macy’s, Best Buy, Walmart, othersAs well as other local experts. Two of his sons are Orange County firefighters, so Bruey asked the mayor if their jobs have had an effect on the debate over vaccine mandates among county employees.

The $1.2 trillion dollar infrastructure bill was signed by President Biden earlier this month.

The City Beautiful is in full celebration mode this weekend as it once again hosts the Florida Blue Florida Classic, a weekend full of events including the Battle of the Bands.

A local government and courts in Florida are easing up on COVID-19 restrictions.

Orange County Mayor, Jerry Demings announces 11th annual toy drive

Orange County Public Schools announced Wednesday that face masks will be optional for all district employees starting the next day.

While domestic travel at OIA has already picked up and remains strong, airport officials hope today is the start of international travel gaining some traction. READ: Coronavirus: US opens doors to fully vaccinated international travelersFor tourism here in Central Florida, the reopening of international travel is a welcome sign for things to come. Read: Airlines expect surge in international passengers now that travel ban has been droppedHere are the rules international travelers must follow. International travelers will need to show proof of vaccination and a recent negative COVID-19 test. Children ages 2 to 8 only need to show a negative COVID-19 test taken within three days of departure.

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — At their weekly COVID-19 briefing, Orange County leaders were able to share some good news. As of Wednesday, the Florida Department of Health is reporting that Orange County’s 14-day rolling positivity rate is 3.15%. “If things change in the future, and the virus reignites itself, then perhaps we’ll make some modifications,” Demings said. Other takeaways from Thursday’s briefing were that 76% of eligible residents 12 and older have had one vaccine dose, and 66% of eligible residents 12 and older have completed their vaccination series. (It) doesn’t mean it’s going to this time, but you have to prepare your kids, so this is a preemptive approach for prevention.” Pino said.

Orange County children ages 5-11 could be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as soon as the winter holiday season, local leaders announced at a Thursday news conference.

ORLANDO, Fla. — SunRail has been up and running in Central Florida for more than seven years. The 61-mile rail currently runs from Osceola County north to DeBary in Volusia County, but there’s still one more stop that needs to be built in DeLand before the state hands over control. There are also additional concerns about just how the transition would take place, and how the local governments plan to pay for it. Original plans called for the state to run it for just seven years before handing over operations to the City of Orlando as well as the Orange, Osceola, Seminole, and Volusia County governments. First, there’s still no organizational structure to speak of between the local governments.

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings is scheduled to provide an update on the spread of COVID-19 in the community on Thursday afternoon. Demings, along with Health Officer Dr. Raul Pino, are set to discuss information about the county’s efforts with vaccinations and boosters at 4:30 p.m.As of Tuesday, the county’s COVID-19 14-day rolling percent positivity rate average was 3.19%. READ: See where your child can get the COVID-19 vaccine in Orange CountyClick here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.

Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings and District 1 Commissioner Nicole Wilson celebrated the opening of the new Malcolm Road Water Supply Facility.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced this week the state is suing the Biden administration over its COVID-19 vaccine mandate for federal contractors.

They’ve been detecting the Delta strain of the virus for months, but now, they say they’ve found traces of the Mu variant. #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/wf8ekaXDep — CDC (@CDCgov) September 22, 2021Martz says they found a very low concentration of the Mu variant. Data scientist Eric Solomon says that’s because most every new COVID-19 case in the United States right now is from the Delta variant. Which means the Mu strain in the sewers isn’t a significant concern because the Delta variant is much more contagious. “We still have a lot of transmission,” Dr. Prins said.

Parents can opt out their children from wearing a mask again at Orange County Public Schools, the district announced Thursday.

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings will officially launch his reelection campaign Thursday. READ: Early voting begins in Orlando city commission races: What you need to knowDemings was elected to his first and current term as Mayor in 2018. The general election is scheduled for November 8, 2022. Primaries for that election are tentatively scheduled for August 23. Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.

Orange County's local state of emergency will be allowed to expire at 3 p.m. Wednesday, nearly three months after Mayor Jerry Demings signed an executive order declaring it.

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings could announce he’s lifting the county’s state of emergency. The Orange County Public Schools superintendent is also watching the announcement closely. Superintendent Barbara Jenkins said her decision on whether to extend or end the school mask mandate will heavily depend on the county’s announcement. READ: Dozens of Florida entities under review for violating state ‘vaccine passport’ banSome parents want to see the school board extend the mask mandate through winter break. Others would like to see the mask mandate extended for younger students who aren’t yet eligible to be vaccinated.

ORLANDO, Fla. — More than 100 separate entities are being investigated by the Florida Department of Health for possible violations of the state’s ban on vaccine passports. The law, signed in May, prohibits businesses, government agencies, and schools from requiring documentation of a COVID-19 vaccination or post-infection proof. Thrilled to sign legislation that prohibits COVID-19 vaccine passports in Florida. According to the health department, only those actually found to be in violation of the law will be fined. They’re facing a fine of nearly $3.6 million for its vaccine requirements for county employees.

ORLANDO, Fla. — First responders with Orange County Fire Rescue, along with their attorney, gave an update Sunday on their lawsuit challenging vaccine mandates in the county. Orange County firefighters were joined by Attorney Rachel Rodriguez to discuss the lawsuit and how vaccine mandates have impacted them. WATCH: State of Florida joins firefighter lawsuit against Orange County over vaccine mandateRodriguez said the legal challenge was filed on Oct. 1 and the case has been assigned to Judge Jeffrey L. Ashton in the Ninth Judicial Circuit in Orange County. Rodriguez said the lawsuit was filed in response to Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings, after he issued mandates for COVID-19 vaccinations and testing in July by calling a state of emergency in the county. WATCH: Orange County battalion chief fired for failing to enforce vaccine mandate“This mandate is against their Florida constitutional fundamental rights, including the right to privacy,” Rodriguez said.

Several firefighters along with an attorney will be discussing a lawsuit against Orange County over its vaccine mandate during a press conference Sunday afternoon.

Gov. Ron DeSantis called for the Florida legislature to return for a special session aiming to provide more safeguards for workers in the state facing vaccine mandates.

Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings was not cowed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' continued threats against the county over vaccine mandates. DeSantis called out Orange...

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Gov. A former Orange County Fire Rescue battalion chief was fired on Tuesday after refusing to give reprimands to firefighters for not following the vaccine mandate. In the meantime, Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings said his mandate is meant to keep everyone safe from the virus. READ: State of Florida joins firefighter lawsuit against Orange County over vaccine mandate“We will aggressively defend our right to protect our citizens,” Demings said. READ: Mayor says Orange County will ‘aggressively defend’ vaccine mandate in court after firefighter firedThe exact dates of the special session are not known yet, however, lawmakers are scheduled to be in Tallahassee for committee meetings the weeks of Nov. 1, Nov. 15 and Nov. 29.

Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings addressed the recent termination of a county battalion chief at a news conference Thursday.

Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings provided a COVID-19 update during a news conference Thursday.

Jerry Demings Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings is asking all residents to wear face masks when in crowded, indoor spaces as coronavirus case numbers continue to rise in the community. (WFTV.com News Staff)ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings is set to provide an update on the spread of COVID-19 in the community on Thursday. The update is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Following the briefing, Orange County Emergency Manager Lauraleigh Avery will honor Orange County Health Officer Dr. Raul Pino with a distinguished service award for his dedication to the county in managing its COVID-19 response. READ: DeSantis to take legal action against COVID-19 vaccine mandatesClick here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.

An Orange County Fire & Rescue battalion chief was fired for refusing to discipline firefighters who refused to get vaccinated. The Orlando Sentinel reports that...

Orange County Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Stephen Davis was fired on Tuesday after failing to follow a direct order over a COVID-19 vaccine mandate, according to county officials.

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings said the county’s 14-day rolling positivity rate is continuing to decline, with it now clocking in at 5.37%. Here are the latest updates in the county by the numbers:>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<Eligible residents (12+) who have one vaccine dose: 74%Eligible residents (12+) who have completed their vaccination series: 65%Total positive cases for Orange County residents: 230,300Total deaths in Orange County: 2,126READ: Orange County health officials to launch program to randomly test students for COVID-19 at schoolClick here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.

Orange County is in its final stages to develop four new affordable housing complexes that will ultimately help 525 families in need.

Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings will provide an update on COVID-19 at a Thursday news conference.

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — The delta variant surge was much worse and lasted longer than either of Orange County’s previous two COVID-19 waves, officials said. August was far and away the deadliest month of the pandemic, with 410 lives taken. It beats out the previous peaks of 228 in January of this year and 227 in July 2020. READ: Chance encounter at sports bar causes anti-vax man to change his mindHowever, Orange County Health Officer Dr. Raul Pino said the death numbers should be dropping significantly soon. Under Orange County’s vaccine mandate, 82% of its employees have been vaccinated.

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Florida coronavirus cases are down 84% since the last week of August, and the state’s positivity rate is now at a point that health officials have been striving for. In Florida, all coronavirus metrics are going down and cases, hospitalizations and deaths are all decreasing. READ: State investigating Central Florida businesses, venues for requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccineFor the first time in three months, Florida’s seven-day coronavirus positivity rate is below 5%. So how did we get here, and what led to the decrease incase count and positivity rate? READ: Holiday shipping: USPS issues 2021 deadlines as crunch looms“There’s been a lot of vaccinations that have been performed, and a lot of people have contracted the virus,” Solomon said.

More than 100 Florida entities, including businesses, municipalities and event venues, are under review with the Department of Health. Even Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings is on the list.

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — The state health department said it is investigating more than a dozen Central Florida businesses and venues for requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccination, and fines could be coming. Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings, who is named personally on the list of those being investigated, said he’s prepared for whatever comes next. READ: Orange County to discipline unvaccinated employees over COVID-19 vaccine mandateDemings said he has not been contacted to be told he’s being fined. READ: Orange County mayor declares October domestic violence awareness monthThe Orange County attorney has also been following other similar cases through the court system, and said most are not holding up under scrutiny. “The indication is the Florida law flies in the face of our Florida constitution and perhaps in the face of common sense,” Demings said.

Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings holds a news conference to discuss COVID-19.

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Survivors of domestic violence joined community leaders on Monday as Mayor Jerry Demings issued a proclamation declaring October domestic violence awareness month. Through Harbor House domestic violence survivors have help with housing, financial management, childcare and even pets. Last year, Orange County had more than 7,000 reported domestic violence cases, but the fear is that many people are not reporting it. “I took advantage of every opportunity that harbor house presented to me. On Monday, if you’re near Lake Eola, you can expect to see the fountain to be lighted purple to recognize domestic violence awareness month.

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention still consider Orange County to have a “high” level of community transmission. However, Orange County officials expect the county to be downgraded very soon. >>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<Orange County’s rolling positivity rate is down to 7.6% after being stuck around 20% through August. Currently, 74% of Orange County residents ages 12 and over have now had at least one dose of the vaccine. Even with three big holidays coming up, Chu remains optimistic.

Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings spoke about the potential of the county facing a lawsuit from some of its firefighters during a news conference on Monday.

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Forty-three employees with Orange County Fire Rescue filed a lawsuit Friday morning, suing the county over its vaccine mandate, documents show. Jason Wheat, a firefighter listed as one of the plaintiffs, spoke with News 6 on Sept. 23 about the county mandate. Those who received a vaccine after Aug. 31 but on or before Sept. 30 would receive one day of personal leave. On Sept. 23, Demings said firefighters who do not comply with the mandate will not face termination but will instead receive a written reprimand. READ: Firefighters refusing COVID-19 shots express worry about keeping their jobs“There were discussions with the International Association of Firefighters regarding the vaccine mandate.

Forty-three employees with the Orange County Fire Rescue filed a lawsuit Friday morning suing the county over its vaccine mandate, documents show.

Nemours Children’s Health System officials stressed the importance of administering the COVID-19 vaccine to children when available at a Thursday press conference hosted by Orange County Mayor Demings.

ORLANDO, Fla. — All Orange County employees must have at least their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine by the end of Thursday or they will be disciplined. Ron DeSantis’s office said it will be watching the controversial vaccine mandate closely. WATCH: Orange County mayor: Employees who don’t comply with COVID-19 vaccine mandate won’t be firedOn this first dose deadline, 79% of employees are vaccinated, 6% have been given medical or religious exemptions and 15% remain unvaccinated. “I’m pleased that we were able to get the rate of vaccinations up within our county employees to well above what it is in the community at large,” said Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings. WATCH: Vaccine mandate protesters prepare for recall effort against Orange County mayorDemings said that wouldn’t have happened without the mandate.

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings is scheduled to provide an update on the spread of COVID-19 in the community on Thursday. Demings is set to deliver the update at 4:30 p.m.Tuesday was the 10th consecutive day that Orange County’s new daily COVID-19 cases were below 500 a day. Stay tuned to Channel 9 Eyewitness News for updates. READ: Orange County in ‘very good position’ in fight against COVID-19Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.

Orange County employees must have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine on or by Thursday as part of a county-issued mandate.

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — About 45% of Orange County Fire Rescue remains unvaccinated and will likely be disciplined Thursday. County Mayor Jerry Demings said they won’t be fired when the deadline hits but instead be given a written reprimand. READ: Firefighters refusing COVID-19 shots express worry about keeping their jobsBut some firefighters plan to take him to court. At the county commission meeting Tuesday, several firefighters hoped to gain commissioners’ support against the mandate. READ: Firefighters protest against Orange County vaccine mandateOn Monday, Demings received a letter stating the county issued the vaccine requirement without legal authority, and that the requirement directly infringes upon firefighters’ constitutional rights in the state of Florida.

Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings says the future of transportation in Orange County might include another penny sales tax.

Orange County's COVID-19 vaccine site at Camping World Stadium will now offer booster shots to those who want them. Mayor Jerry Demings announced the new...

Ron DeSantis' administration officially threatened Orange County with fines over their mandate requiring all county government employees be vaccinated. Mayor Jerry Demings shared at the...

Pfizer booster shots will be available to eligible county residents at Camping World Stadium starting tomorrow, Sept. 28.

Jerry Demings Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings is asking all residents to wear face masks when in crowded, indoor spaces as coronavirus case numbers continue to rise in the community. (WFTV.com News Staff)ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Mayor Jerry Demings and other Orange County leaders will host a COVID-19 update on Monday morning. The news conference is set to start at 11 a.m.We could learn more about the mayor’s plan to deal with firefighters who refuse to get a COVID-19 vaccine. Last week, Demings said he would not fire employees who choose not to get a COVID-19 vaccine. READ: Orange County Department of Health puts a hold on testing sites at Orange County Public SchoolsSo far, about 600 firefighters have not gotten the shot.

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — As of last week, Orange County was in jeopardy of losing nearly 600 firefighters over Mayor Jerry Demings’ vaccine mandate. Nearly half of Orange County’s firefighters said they’re relieved to keep their jobs for now, but they’re worried about what could still happen to them as they continue to refuse the COVID-19 shot. “I think it’s a step in the right direction,” said Orange County firefighter Jason Wheat. So this is a really, really big deal.”READ: Firefighters protest against Orange County vaccine mandateHe said many firefighters feel misunderstood and they believe what the county is doing is unlawful, unethical and wrong. Firefighters said they’re happy the mayor doesn’t plan to fire anyone refusing the shot, but it takes only two written reprimands to be terminated.

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings said those who don’t get vaccinated against COVID-19 will no longer risk being fired. This comes after a pushback, specifically, from the firefighters union. The firefighters’ union has been in negotiations with the county on this requirement for weeks now. Roughly half of Orange County firefighters have not shown proof of vaccination. READ: Firefighters protest against Orange County vaccine mandateOverall, 84% of county employees are in compliance.

Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings announced Thursday that firefighters who do not comply with the county's vaccine mandate for its employees will not face termination, but rather will only get hit with a written reprimand.

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings said county employees who do not comply with the county’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate will not be fired. He said instead, those employees will be given a “written reprimand.”READ: Orange County seeing increase in employee vaccination rate, mayor saysDemings said the decision comes after conversations with the firefighters’ union. As of Thursday, Demings said 84% of all Orange County employees have gotten at least one dose of the vaccine or have had accommodations granted. Of those, 94% of non-union employees have received at least one shot and 69% of union employees. @WFTV — Lauren Seabrook (@LSeabrookWFTV) September 23, 2021READ: Firefighters protest against Orange County vaccine mandateThe deadliest month of the pandemic so far in Orange County was August, with 401 coronavirus-related deaths that month as of Thursday.

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — COVID-19 killed nearly 400 Orange County residents in August, and now six Orange County employees have died, too. Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings said he believes this experience has recently driven up the employee vaccination rate. More than 78% of his staff have now received at least one shot, which exceeds the community vaccination rate. READ: Vaccine mandate protesters prepare for recall effort against Orange County mayorEmployees can only request an exemption for religious or health reasons. Under Demings’ vaccine mandate, all employees must have their first dose by Sept. 30.

August has been named the deadliest month of the pandemic so far, according to Orange County leaders, with at least 388 deaths, and more are expected to be added to the tally.

It feels like forever ago that Orange County had a coronavirus positivity rate below 5%. That number was set by the county and used as...

ORLANDO, Fla. — The deadline is approaching for Orange County employees to get vaccinated or risk termination. Another group gathered at Lake Eola on Sunday and threatened a recall effort against the Orange County mayor. READ: Firefighters protest against Orange County vaccine mandateThe protestors said they are getting ready to gather signatures and have already gained support online. READ: Orange County government to stop asking job applicants if they have criminal convictionsThose who don’t get the vaccine could be terminated. Around 80% of Orange County workers have received at least one shot, but hundreds of workers remain unvaccinated.

The figures released Friday brought the state’s daily average for the week to more than 10,800 cases, though there were 11,275 new cases reported on Friday. A month ago, Florida was averaging more than 21,000 cases a day. WATCH: AdventHealth moves to ‘Green status’ as COVID-19 cases dip below 1,000 for first time in monthsThe total number of COVID-19 cases in Florida since the start of the pandemic in early 2020 is just shy of 3.5 million cases, according to the CDC. Despite the decline in new cases, Florida marked a somber milestone in the past week, surpassing 50,000 coronavirus deaths since the pandemic began. AdventHealth’s Central Florida Division said the number of COVID-19 patients at its hospitals now stands at 850 people, several hundred patients fewer than earlier this summer.

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — On Saturday, dozens of firefighters and supporters showed up at Lake Eola to fight for Orange County firefighters’ right to choose. Firefighters like Jorge Hernandez say the rally isn’t about being against the vaccine, it’s about the right to decide for themselves. READ: Police looking for Brian Laundrie in Florida preserve as search for Gabby Petito continues“When this whole pandemic started and we were out there, we were never against the vaccine,” Hernandez said. Orange County is risking millions in fines by the state for enforcing the mandate. Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 8 Firefighter ProtestOrange County Mayor Jerry Demings said he doesn’t want the firefighters to lose their jobs over this, either.

Orange County leaders say they have yet to receive any notice on potential fines stemming from the mandate that county employees get vaccinated against COVID-19 or risk losing their jobs.

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings is set to provide an update on the spread of COVID-19 in the community on Friday. Demings and Health Officer Dr. Raul Pino are set to host the news conference at 3:30 p.m.Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.

ORANGE COUNTY, FLA. — A day after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said he would slap Orange County with millions of dollars in fines for its employee COVID-19 vaccine mandate, Mayor Jerry Demings said, “we have a lot of politics involved in this.”During Tuesday’s county commission meeting, Demings asked County Attorney Jeff Newton to chime in. Newton said Orange County has not received a formal letter from the governor explaining why he thinks there is legal ground to fine the county $5,000 per infraction. So far, 72% of Orange County employees have been vaccinated. READ: Cities, counties that require COVID-19 vaccine for employees to face $5K fines, DeSantis saysAccording to the county, 448 people have applied for medical or religious exemptions from getting the vaccine.

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — The battle over vaccine mandates for Orange County employees looks to be headed to court. About 500 Orange county firefighters indicated they will not turn in their vaccination cards in support of others who refuse to get vaccinated. Under the mandate from Orange County mayor Jerry Demings, county employees have two weeks to get the COVID-19 vaccine or face termination. Orange County fired back, saying that they are well within their rights to put a mandate in place. Firefighters from across the state have said they plan to hold a rally in Orlando to show support for Orange County firefighters.

ORANGE COUNTY, FLA. — Gov. Ron DeSantis said Monday that cities and counties that require their workers to be vaccinated against COVID-19 will face a $5,000 fine per infraction. DeSantis announced the news during a rally-like press conference of politicians and residents who blasted President Joe Biden’s vaccine mandate order from last week. DeSantis specifically mentioned Orange County during news conference, so it is clear the county is in the crosshairs. “We are going to protect people’s jobs … we are not going to let people be fired because of a vaccine mandate,” DeSantis said.

Orange County leaders announced 56 additional deaths from COVID-19 which had been reported to the county since Thursday, including the death of a baby younger than 1.

Jerry Demings Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings is asking all residents to wear face masks when in crowded, indoor spaces as coronavirus case numbers continue to rise in the community. (WFTV.com News Staff)ORANGE COUNTY, FLA. — Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings is set to provide an update on COVID-19 testing and vaccination sites within the community on Thursday. The update is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.Health officer Dr. Raul Pino and Comptroller Phil Diamond are also both scheduled to be in attendance at the news conference. READ: Biden to announce new COVID-19 vaccine mandate for federal workersClick here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — The current surge of COVID-19 recently took the life of a fifth Orange County employee. Mayor Jerry Demings said he’s growing increasingly worried about the unvaccinated people who work for him. “I believe as their employer, it is our responsibility to protect them even from themselves when perhaps they may not,” Demings said. READ: Protesters take to Orange County following mayor’s decision to mandate vaccines for county employeesLast week, Demings announced a one-month extension to his vaccine requirement stating employees must have at least their first dose by Sept. 30 and be fully vaccinated by Oct. 31. Demings said for those who refuse to get vaccinated, the county has “a disciplinary process and we will follow the process that’s established.”So far, the county has approved medical or religious exemptions for 43 employees, but requests are still coming in.

Since kids five to 14 years of age still make up a majority of new cases, according to the county's health department, the mayor is implementing a new mask policy for county-run after-school programs.

Orange County leaders are optimistic that the county has seen its peak for new infections but, at the same time, they are reporting 107 deaths from COVID-19 in August and expect that number to rise.

More than a dozen portable morgues will head to several hospital systems in Central Florida as some facilities have hit capacity, according to the Disaster Medical Coalition.

As the state continues to see high numbers of COVID-19 cases, Orange County health officials said some morgues at its hospitals have hit capacity.

Morgues at some Orange County hospitals have hit capacity amid the recent surge in COVID-19 cases.

Orange County mayor condemns DeSantis on order to reverse COVID-19 fines Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings condemned a recent executive order by Gov. ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Orange County officials will hold a news briefing about COVID-19 Thursday afternoon. On Monday, Mayor Jerry Demings said the total number of COVID-19 cases in Orange County was 198,086, with 1,278 new cases reported since Sunday. READ: Herd immunity ‘practically impossible’ in Orange County at this point, health experts sayAccording to officials, that brings the 14-day positivity rate to 20%. Health officials said that 20% of all new cases were children between the ages of 5 to 14.

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings said he is trying to save lives. Four county employees have recently died from the virus, and there are several county employees “who are now in critical care units and are still very, very sick,” Demings said. All employees must have their initial vaccine dose or the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine by Tuesday. The county said the county is at 66% of its non-union employees being vaccinated, up from the 40% vaccinated Tuesday. READ: DeSantis pushes back on school districts ordering mask mandates against state lawThe Orange County Sheriff’s Office does not fall under the county’s mandate, but Sheriff John Mina shared a video strongly encouraging employees to get the shot.

The International Association of Fire Fighters in Orange County met with the county's human resources department Monday to begin negotiations over the county's mask mandate.

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Dozens of firefighters and their supporters gathered outside the Orange County Operations Center Monday afternoon to protest the county’s move to require them to have at least one vaccine shot by next week. Late last month, Mayor Jerry Demings made COVID-19 vaccines mandatory for non-union employees, and the county has since been meeting with unions to come up with a plan. Firefighters and supporters gathered Monday protesting an expanded vaccine mandate for all bargaining employees. READ: 20% of all new Orange County COVID-19 cases in children ages 5-14“We are here today to stand up for our freedom and our rights to be able to have our freedoms of choice in what we put in our body,” said firefighter Wendy WIlliams. On Monday morning, Mayor Jerry Demings said the county’s mission is to save lives and he respects the bargaining process and expects to keep these conversations going this week.

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings will host a news briefing about COVID-19 and provide an update on testing sites and vaccinations. Joining Mayor Demings will be Dr. Raul Pino and Scott Howat with Orange County Public Schools. Coronavirus: FDA grants full approval of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccineExpand Autoplay Image 1 of 11 Delta plus variant Here are nine things you need to know about the delta plus variant. (WFTV.com News Staff)More information on the Orange County COVID-19 response can be found here. Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, and click here to watch the latest news on your Smart TV.

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings has extended the state of emergency for Orange County due to the high volume of hospitalizations, he announced Thursday. Another 16 people have died from COVID-19 since Monday, among them are two Orange County employees and four residents of long-term care facilities. Orange County leaders said the pandemic is starting to trend toward flat, but we’re not out of the woods yet. Wednesday was one of the first days Orange County reported less than 1,000 cases of COVID-19 in a week. READ: Here’s how to track COVID-19 cases in your child’s school district©2021 Cox Media Group

There has been a decrease in emergency room visits in Orange County, according to Dr. Raul Pino with the Florida Department of Health.

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Orange County leaders will be giving an update on COVID-19 on Monday morning. Mayor Jerry Demings is expected to speak at 11 a.m.Channel 9 will livestream the news conference on its website. Click here to watch the news conference when it begins. ©2021 Cox Media Group

Sampling shows the presence of the delta variant is increasing within the county.

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Union negotiations are underway in Orange County when it comes to COVID-19 vaccine requirements. Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings is requiring employees to get vaccinated, but the county has to bargain with the unions over the issue. READ: COVID-19 outbreaks reported at 40 Orange County long-term care facilitiesThe fraternal order of police and the county went to table after the requirement went into place. Numbers from the county show 38 corrections officers and 42 inmates currently have COVID-19, and two COs have died. Demings would not give us details about the negotiations or the county’s strong stance, only saying the negotiations were underway.

Orange County leaders announced 17 new deaths had been reported within the county since they last provided an update on the county’s COVID-19 response on Monday.

Camping World Stadium debuted its vaccination operations Tuesday.

Orange County leaders hold a dour news conference ahead of the first day of school for students in the county district.

As there continues to be a surge in COVID-19 cases, there has been a renewed push to get people vaccinated.

The vaccination site at Barnett Park will soon be moving to Camping World Stadium in effort to free up traffic at the park, according to Orange County officials.

As the rising number of COVID-19 cases puts pressure on Orange County's hospitals, the county is also beginning to feel an economic pinch.

Orange County leaders detailed the rising number of COVID-19 cases across the county during a new conference on Monday afternoon.

Orange County's largest employers came together to share ideas and best practices to stop the surge of COVID-19 cases as part of the Orange County's Economic Recovery Task Force, meeting for the first time in more than a year on Monday afternoon.

After more than a year, the Orange County Economic Recovery Task Force is meeting again on Monday after a rise in COVID-19 cases, which last week forced Mayor Jerry Demings to issue and emergency order.

Leaders on both the federal and local levels are stepping up incentive measures to motivate people to get vaccinated. With the expansion of the delta variant, positive COVID-19 cases have once again put a strain on the hospital system.

After the cancelation of a conference at the Orange County Convention Center, Mayor Jerry Demings is hoping his new executive order is a proactive step to curb further negative economic impacts.