Florida News That Impacts You – April 30th, 2021
Bottom Line: Your daily recap of the some of the biggest news from around the state that impacts you in South Florida.
- Florida’s trend for new COVID-19 cases improved for an 8th consecutive day on Thursday as the Florida Department of Health reported5,666 new cases – which was well below the prior Thursday’s total. Thursday’s report is generally the highest during the week based on testing and reporting patterns. Florida’s weekly average for new cases is down to 5,311 – the lowest since April 1st.
- Over 8.7 million Floridians, or about 41% of the state’s population, have now been vaccinated with at least a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine including nearly 6.1 million who’ve completed a vaccine series.
- 25 laws had already passed in the session entering Thursday. As Florida’s state legislative session is nearing its end, key movers on Thursday included the so-called “vaccine passport ban” and “election integrity legislation”. If signed by Governor DeSantis the vaccine passport legislation would take effect July 1st. Under the legislation businesses or schools requiring proof of a COVID-19 vaccine would face a $5,000 fine per person. The bill also limits the emergency declaration powers of government at all levels. As for the election integrity measures...
- Under the bill heading to the governor’s desk, voter ID would be required for all vote-by-mail ballots, which would have to be requested each election cycle, along with updated signature matches for those ballots. 3rd parties who aren’t caregivers wouldn’t be able to drop off ballots. Drop boxes will have to be monitored and won’t be able to be moved within 30 days of an election.
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