We’ve seen a number of changes made recently regarding COVID-19 precautions, rules, and regulations.
Florida Palm Trees
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has updated their guidance for wearing masks outdoors, particularly as to those who are fully vaccinated. And we’ve seen the Orange County, Florida mayor relax distancing rules and announce changes coming to the mask mandate. But now we’ve got a big update from the Florida Governor regarding local COVID-19 rules in the state.
According to the Orlando Sentinel, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is “suspending all local COVID-19 emergency orders with an executive order today.” The Executive Order will “invalidate all local COVID-19 emergency orders, and issue a stop-gap directive to halt the orders now.”
©The Florida Channel | Courtesy of WTVT
According to the Orlando Sentinel, Governor DeSantis also signed a bill into law that would make his COVID-19 vaccine passport ban a permanent law. The bill he signed recently also gives the Legislature more power to “overrule any emergency mandates or restrictions by the governor, the governor the authority to overrule cities and counties, and city and county commissions the power to overrule mayors.”
Under that bill, an emergency order issued by a city or county must be “limited in duration, applicability, and scope in order to reduce any infringement on individual rights or liberties to the greatest extent possible.” Any such emergency orders would then “automatically expire after seven days and would have to be extended by city or county commissions every week for 42 days.” Additionally, the law states that at any time the governor can invalidate any local emergency order.
Florida Sunset
That legislation becomes effective on July 1st. In the meantime, it appears this Executive Order is being signed to “bridge the gap.”
Executive Order Number 21-101, notes that “any emergency order issued by a political subdivision due to the COVID-19 emergency which restricts the rights or liberties of individuals or their businesses is invalidated.” But, it notes that nothing in the Executive Order prohibits political subdivisions from “enacting ordinances pursuant to regular enactment procedures to protect the health, safety, and welfare of its local population. Only the COVID-19 emergency orders, as defined in SB 2006, enacted prior to July I, 2021, are hereby invalidated.”
Florida
In a separate executive order, Executive Order Number 21-102, the Governor notes that “the State and the majority of local governments have declined to issue mask mandates” but that “a select number of local governments continue to impose mandates and business restrictions.” The Executive Order then declares that “all local COVID-19 restrictions and mandates on individuals and businesses are hereby suspended.”
It also notes that the Executive Order specifically “eliminates and supersedes any existing emergency order or ordinance issued by a county or municipality that imposes restrictions or mandates upon businesses or individuals due to the COVID-19 emergency.”
The Executive Order also states that for the remaining duration of Florida’s state of emergency, counties and municipalities cannot renew or enact emergency orders or ordinances using a local state of emergency or other specific emergency enactment procedures that impose “restrictions or mandates upon businesses or individuals due to the COVID-19 emergency.”
Walkway
Keep in mind, from a federal perspective, the Transportation Security Administration recently extended its requirement that masks be worn on all planes, forms of public transportation, and other specific areas.
Flying to Orlando
It is our understanding that this executive order from Governor DeSantis would impact the enforceability of the local COVID-19 rules and regulations in place in Orange County, Florida, such as the mask mandate, which was created via an executive order from the Orange County mayor some time ago.
During a press conference held previously, Mayor Demings noted that he was declining to comment on the Executive Order at the moment, as he had not yet seen the text of it.
Update: Mayor Demings has since released a statement about the situation. In it, he notes that “Orange County Government will continue to review its statutory authority and will respond accordingly.” We’ll keep an eye out for any updates or statements from Mayor Demings of Orange County, Florida.
Face Mask
In terms of how the Florida bill would affect a place like Disney World, during a press conference Governor DeSantis said, “This bill applies to government action…In terms of what a…Disney theme park [chooses to do], this doesn’t have to do with that.” The section of the bill regarding the ban of vaccine passports, however, does restrict businesses from requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccination in order to serve customers.
Essentially, Disney, which is a private company, and other private businesses, can continue to require guests to wear masks and take certain other actions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Here’s a side view!
Disney does currently require all guests ages 2 and up to wear masks in the parks at all times, except when specifically allowed to be removed, like when eating or drinking while distanced and stationary. Guests are also still required to maintain an appropriate social distance from others in the park. Guests who fail to wear an approved mask appropriate will be asked to leave the park.
Remember to continue to wear face masks properly!
We’ll keep an eye out for more information and let you know what we find.
Click here to see more about how the mask mandate from the TSA has been extended for planes and public transportation in the United States.
Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe!
Our handy (and portable!) ebook guides make sure you get the best deals and can plan a vacation of a lifetime.
My guess is Universal will soon drop their mask mandate and Disney will follow as soon as their data gathering folks realize people are going to Universal instead of WDW.
“Essentially, Disney, which is a private company, and other private businesses, can continue to require guests to wear masks and take certain other actions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic”
This the problem some people don’t realize when you see those viral videos when you seem having a fit and protesting their right not to wear a mask. Just like “no shoes, no shirt, so service”, private companies can make and enforce their own policies within their private business’s and properties. Hang on people, it’s almost over and things will be back to normal soon enough.
This is crazy.
Our Pledge of Allegiance states; One nation . . . with liberty and justice for ALL. There is no justice to restrict the liberties of a person’s right to have needed safety precautions taken in a time that our government is guaranteed by the Constitution to protect the citizenry from all threats to health, safety, and well being. All threats . . . foreign, domestic, by force, or by nature. Not the exact words, but the point of that guarantee.
This would be a non-issue by now if the recommendations of the experts had been followed a long time ago. It will never be over until everyone wants it to be over. By putting their pettiness aside. With this attitude we would still be losing the battle with Polio.
please keep the mask wearing and social distancing practise in place. your doing a great job keeping everyone safe
Woo hoo. Can you smell the freedom!
It is time to make each individual be responsible for themselves. If you are not vaccinated and choose to wear a mask then that is your prerogative. I as many Americans have received their vaccination and would like to go back to normal. STOP THE MASKS!!!!!!!
What about flying to Florida? Does it mean travellers from aboard may visit Orange County in july?
“This bill applies to government action…In terms of what a…Disney theme park [chooses to do], this doesn’t have to do with that.” Essentially, Disney, which is a private company, and other private businesses, can continue to require guests to wear masks and take certain other actions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
I HOPE the WDW organization follows suit with the Governor and recends masks mandates. I hope Bill who posted that Universal will drop mask mandate and WDW will follow soon after due to competition is spot on in his opinion.
Look at the clouds in your photo of “Walkway” with wonderful Palm trees. Blow up the clouds. Looks like a Mouse face? Or Maybe I’m just constantly thinking of our next Disney World vacation when masks will no longer be needed?
“My guess is Universal will soon drop their mask mandate ”
Universal here we come!
I’ll be going to Universal and SeaWorld from now on. Disney has lost my business because of making people wear masks.
As a resident of Florida I can say DeSantis is a moron. He rules like a dictator. He doesn’t care about the health and wellfare of the people. He cares about big business(The amusement parks) that can put money into his fund to run for president.
I wanted to go this summer but seeing this governor ‘s insane reaction I don’t know if I can go to Florida at all
I’m wondering why are we getting vaccinated if nothing is changing at DSW?
Good for Governor DeSantis and good for Florida! Do you think he would like to replace our “governor” in Michigan!?
Love that Governor!!
Thanks to DeSantis, Disney World and many other businesses are now open.
Kudos to Governor DeSantis! Try walking around in Disney World with a mask on when it is 92 degrees. I almost fainted when I was there last month. Had to retreat back to the Hotel. It is not fun and masks are not necessary if we have all been vaccinated already. Masks doesn’t really work anyway and most doctors will tell you the same. It’s all about the government trying to control our lives.
Masking 2 yr olds is insane
The research says they don’t fully protect you anyways
If your scared STAY home !