No guarantees on workers’ comp COVID-19 changes
News Service of Florida
Tags:
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.
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
Published:
Tags:
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.)
/
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.
/
Emergency Management Director Jared Moskowitz made an appearance Thursday before a legislative committee to discuss Florida s vaccination strategy.
Moskowitz, a former Democratic state lawmaker, also told a state Senate committee that President Joe Biden “has inherited a mess” regarding the vaccine.
Florida’s program to vaccinate residents of long-term care facilities is complete, freeing up resources for the state’s broader inoculation strategy against the coronavirus.
Emergency Management Director Jared Moskowitz made an appearance Thursday before the state Senate Select Committee on Pandemic Preparedness and Response to discuss Florida s vaccination strategy.
Moskowitz told lawmakers that as of Thursday, all residents and employees at more than 3,000 assisted living facilities and 4,000 nursing homes across the state have been offered the vaccine, even if the state could not compel everyone in such facilities to get shots.