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Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has called on Florida state lawmakers to permanently ban COVID-19 mandates.
The republican has been a major critic of the federal government and major medical organizations such as the Center for Disease Control (CDC) about their mandates and the handling of COVID-19.
During a news conference in Panama City Beach, the governor along with Florida’s Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo announced the proposals for the state.
The proposals included banning COVID-19 mask mandates, banning mask and vaccine mandates in all schools, as well as vaccine passports, and banning employers from hiring or firing a person based on their COVID vaccine history within the state of Florida.
Today, I announced an initiative to make protections against coercive biomedical policies permanent including prohibiting:
– COVID vax passports – COVID vax & mask requirements to attend any school – Any COVID mask requirements – All discrimination based on vax or booster status — Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) January 17, 2023
They also asked lawmakers to shield physicians from being disciplined if they choose to express their views on the virus.
“We’re really excited to be able to make it very clear that we’re willing to lead the way,” DeSantis said. “I think these permanent reforms are going to be very very good. People will be able to have great peace of mind. Because you know I used to tell people during the election I said you have the CDC adding the COVID jabs to childhood immunization schedule. People are going to use that around this country to justify mandates. You watch it’s going to happen. And I said you don’t have to worry about that as long as I’m governor.” Across the country, freedom has been stripped from The People in the name of public health. Not in Florida. Today @GovRonDeSantis announced he will end any remaining unscientific restrictions – permanently. On behalf of a grateful state, thank you, Gov! pic.twitter.com/3bRC4skaEO — Casey DeSantis (@CaseyDeSantis) January 17, 2023
The governor’s announcement received heavy criticism from Florida House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell (D-Fla.) saying that DeSantis has become “the No. 1 peddler of a dangerous message from the anti-vax establishment.”
In Florida, we support medical professionals and their right to free speech and we reject policies that seek to manufacture “consensus” through coercion. pic.twitter.com/ftpgfgJ1uH — Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) January 18, 2023
DeSantis has also proposed legislation that protects medical personnel who do not agree with federal medical recommendations, as well as religious views pertaining to COVID-19.