JACKSONVILLE, Fla — During his speech on Thursday, President Joe Biden announced all businesses with over 100 employees must have workers vaccinated or have them undergo weekly COVID tests. The plan will be enforced as a new rule by the Department of Labor.
“This is not about freedom or personal choice,” Biden said. “It’s about protecting those around you.”
The president cited large businesses like United Airlines, Tyson Foods, and Fox News as places that enforce a vaccine mandate. The White House says the Occupational Safety and Health Administration will be developing an temporary emergency standard to enforce the new requirement.
The new rule by the Biden administration would affect numerous businesses in Jacksonville. According to JaxUSA.org, this would affect businesses like JEA, Crowley Maritime, Northrop Grumman, Publix Jacksonville Warehouse, and Southeastern Grocers.
In a now deleted tweet, Jacksonville Councilman, and CEO of K-9′s for Warriors, Rory Diamond expressed his outrage saying, “I will not force a disabled American veteran to get a vaccine. All they want to do is serve their brothers and sisters-in-arms. See you in court.”
Florida Attorney Roger Feicht believes there will be legal battles over this issue saying, “It’s just an announcement but once the details emerge, it is certainly possible that there could be legal challenges in the court system.” Feicht wonders if the government can enforce this new rule saying, “There is no existing case law precedent on this topic.”
There is no time table as to when this rule would go into effect.
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