Leon County is keeping in place its COVID-19 vaccination mandate for employees after Gov. Ron DeSantis threatened to fine employers that require its workers to get the shot.
“Based on the comments that have been made that there may be an attempt to issue some sort of an assessment or a fine on the county, in which case that would afford the county due process at that time," said County Administrator Vince Long. "And we would have to take the necessary steps that may be available to us to address that issue."
Long says the county’s vaccination requirement is legal and necessary for the county to do its part to curb the spread of the highly contagious coronavirus delta variant.
For now, the county also plans to continue recommending people wear masks inside all of its buildings. At Tuesday's meeting, county commissioners rejected a proposal to require face coverings. The debate centered on difficulties enforcing the policy.
All county employees must get vaccinated by Oct. 1, unless they get a religious or medical exemption.
County officials object to the DeSantis administration's efforts to limit local governments' ability to adopt policy aimed at slowing the spread.
"To limit that in any way, leaves us with fewer options and potentially the worst case scenario in our community", Long says.
