No guarantees on workers’ comp COVID-19 changes
News Service of Florida
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A health care worker disinfects her hands as residents of Bergschenhoek, Netherlands, take part in a mass test of all of the municipality s 62,000 inhabitants starting Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021, following a cluster of COVID-19 cases at an elementary school, including about 30 cases of the British coronavirus variant. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong) (Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Senate will “look” at coronavirus-related workers’ compensation claims during this year’s legislative session, the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee said Monday.
But Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, made no promises the Senate would make changes to ensure front-line health care workers and teachers can tap into workers’ compensation benefits.
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The Biden administration has cut a deal with Australian digital diagnostics company Ellume to increase the availability of its at-home rapid response COVID-19 test kit in the U.S.
The Department of Defense, with the Department of Health and Human Services, will pay $231.8 million for Ellume to deliver 8.5 million tests across the U.S. in accordance with the National Strategy for the COVID-19 Response and Pandemic Preparedness policy.
Ellume will also build a U.S. manufacturing facility with the financial support. Until the new facility is built, Ellume will send 100,000 tests per month from its Australian facility. Once it’s built, the company will be able to produce up to 19 million tests per month.
Sen. Jeff Brandes is the primary Senate sponsor of a proposal (SB 72) that would provide broad immunity to most businesses from coronavirus-related lawsuits. But the bill specifically excludes health care providers from the protections.
Sen. Jeff Brandes made no promises the Senate would make changes to ensure front-line health care workers and teachers can tap into workers’ compensation benefits.
The Florida Senate will “look” at coronavirus-related workers’ compensation claims during this year’s legislative session, the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee said Monday.
But Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, made no promises the Senate would make changes to ensure front-line health care workers and teachers can tap into workers’ compensation benefits.
‘Shot shopping,’ COVID-19 vaccine allotments frustrate rural counties in Florida
Dara Kam, Senior reporter, News Service of Florida
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FILE - In this Jan. 12, 2021 file photo, a health care professional prepares a Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at Sheba Tel Hashomer Hospital in Ramat Gan, Israel. Israel Defense Minister Benny Gantzs office said Sundya, Jan. 31, 2021, that Israel has agreed to transfer 5,000 doses of the coronavirus vaccine to the Palestinians to immunize front-line medical workers. It is the first time that Israel has confirmed the transfer of vaccines to the Palestinians. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty, File) (Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)
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Okeechobee County Commissioner Terry Burroughs says residents of his county are being “short-changed” because people from nearby regions are snapping up the highly sought-after vaccine doses.
The small counties’ frustration of being short-changed is among a litany of complaints about Florida’s rollout of COVID-19 vaccines.
“Shot shopping” by seniors from neighboring areas and uncertainty about COVID-19 vaccine allotments are vexing local officials in rural counties, but the state s emergency management chief blames the problems on supply shortages.
The small counties’ frustration is among a litany of complaints about Florida’s rollout of COVID-19 vaccines, as elected officials in counties of all sizes are flooded by requests from constituents trying to get potentially life-saving shots.