MASKS

In-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 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.

Since the national mask mandate was overturned, several companies have announced face coverings are now optional in their facilities and on their public transportation.

The union for Southwest’s 16,000 flight attendants issued a letter to federal officials and the White House.

A group of pilots is suing the CDC over mask policies on airplanes.

Face coverings are now optional for President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address, set for Tuesday.

Americans who have been clamoring for an end to mask-wearing have welcomed new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

A 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.

The 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.

Gov. 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.

Florida never had a mask mandate, but other states did and they’re rolling back their restrictions.

Responsibility for school mask mandates is shifting back to local leaders, who are caught in the middle of one of the most divisive issues of the pandemic.

Spain is scrapping a mandate to wear masks outdoors, as COVID-19 infection rates drop and hospitals report lower admissions.

Select pharmacies across the U.S., and throughout the state of Florida, are offering free N95 masks provided by government officials.

Fresco 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.

The Biden administration will begin making 400 million N95 masks available for free to Americans starting next week.

Health experts suggest stepping up protection against omicron with N95s, KN95s or similar masks.

Italy, Spain and other European countries are reinstating or stiffening mask mandates as their hospitals struggle with mounting numbers of COVID-19 patients.

If you're masking up again because of omicron, here is what researchers say will help you get the most out of your mask.

The Archdiocese of Miami is now requiring face masks for anyone attending Mass at its 109 parishes.

After 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.

Rebuking 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.

Top 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.

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

Florida lawmakers begin debating a package of bills to combat coronavirus vaccine mandates, continuing Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis' fight against virus rules.

Florida’s largest school district is dropping all mask mandates.

An 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.

For 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.

An 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 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.

Changes 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.

A 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.

The 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.

The 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.

The 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.

The 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 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.

Changes are coming to the mask policy at Volusia County Schools after district leaders discussed the issue during a Tuesday night meeting.

Here's the latest on the battle between the state and some parents over students wearing masks in schools.

A mandatory face-covering policy begins in Volusia County schools.

Will Lake County students have to wear masks to class?

The 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.

Students in Orange County are now required to wear masks for the next 60 days.

The attorney for parents suing to overturn the governor's executive order banning strong student mask mandates says the order violates the authority of school districts to decide health issues.

A 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.

Attorneys 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.

The coronavirus is disrupting more classrooms in Florida, while lawyers for Gov. Ron DeSantis argue against school mask mandates in a Tallahassee courtroom.

Outside 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.

The politically-charged Florida debate over wearing masks in school to guard against coronavirus infection is now before a judge.

Classes begin on Monday for students at the Univesity of Central Florida.

Walt Disney World is tweaking its face mask policy.

Hillsborough 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.

The 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.

Students went back to class Monday in Volusia County where new face-covering rules were put in place for the beginning of the school year.

Gov. Ron DeSantis is sticking with his ban on mask mandates inside Florida public schools.

State Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran reiterated DeSantis’ position that parents should be able to decide whether children wear masks.

Seminole County Health Director Todd Husty said the virus will still spread.

Orange 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’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.

Last 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.

A 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.

As 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.

Despite a Florida executive order banning mask mandates in schools, one Florida school district is moving forward with mask requirements.

Beginning 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.

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

Seminole County Public School is giving parents an extra week to sign their students up for Seminole County Virtual School.

With 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 is ordering its employees to return to wearing masks inside its stores regardless of their vaccination status, according to a spokesperson.

The debate over wearing masks in schools continues to be an issue as the beginning of the semester approaches.

Brevard county school board member Jennifer Jenkins is calling for the topic of masks to be discussed at Thursday night's meeting.

The 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.

Employees in Volusia County facilities will now be required to wear masks indoors once again regardless of vaccination status.

Masks had started to disappear from store shelves but they may be front and center again.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is making headlines again.

Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings signed an executive order Wednesday declaring a local state of emergency.

Residents and business owners in Orlando are reacting to revised masking guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

As 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.

The 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.

South Korea has reported a new daily high for coronavirus cases, putting pressure on authorities to extend their toughest distancing rules.

Walt Disney World updated its mask guidelines for guests on Friday, allowing those fully vaccinated to go maskless in the parks.

COVID-19 is still "wreaking havoc" in Central Florida.

Orange County officials debate mask rules for next school year.

The Osceola County school board decided Tuesday to make masks optional for all students, parents and employees in district buildings starting July 1.

Fully vaccinated guests at Universal Orlando will no longer be required to wear masks indoors starting Saturday, according to the resort.

Kids at summer camps can skip wearing masks outdoors, with some exceptions.

Following a meeting Friday morning, Brevard Public Schools voted to make masks optional once the school year ends at the beginning of June.

Seminole County officials are preparing for over capacity crowds on Tuesday when the Board of County Commissioners will vote to end the county's mandatory mask order on June 7.

DeLAND, 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 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.

Officers 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.

Health 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.

Still, 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, 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.

This 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.

MADRID – 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.

OCALA, 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.

MIAMI 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.

MARSHALL, 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.

Dr. Mary Clifton of Boomer Naturals is providing some tips. If you need help with the Public File, call 407-291-6000.

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