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The rule, which was finalized on Friday andgoes into effect on Sept. 16, states that those who require customers or members to provide vaccination documentation will be issued a “$5,000 fine per individual and separate violation.”
Violators can choose to appeal their fines, the rule says, though they will have 30 days to pay once it is finalized.
In May, Gov. Ron DeSantissigned a billbanning businesses, schools and governmental entities from requiring proof of vaccination. The statute also allows the state’s health department to impose a fine that does “not to exceed $5,000 per violation” on those who violate the ban.
“This legislation ensures that legal safeguards are in place so that local governments cannot arbitrarily close our schools or businesses,” the Republican lawmaker, 42, said in a statement at the time. “In Florida, your personal choice regarding vaccinations will be protected and no business or government entity will be able to deny you services based on your decision.”
In addition to banning COVID-19 vaccinations in schools, DeSantissigned an executive orderlast month prohibiting school boards from implementing mask mandates in the new academic year.
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COVID-19 numbers have been increasing across the United States due to the highly transmissible Delta variant, which is nowthe most common strainin the country, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Unvaccinated individuals make up the large majority of new cases and hospitalizations.
As of Wednesday, 52.6 percent (174.6 million) of the United States populace is fully vaccinated against COVID-19,according to data from the CDC, while 61.9 percent (205.5 million) have received at least one dose.
As information about thecoronavirus pandemicrapidly changes, PEOPLE is committed to providing the most recent data in our coverage. Some of the information in this story may have changed after publication. For the latest on COVID-19, readers are encouraged to use online resources from theCDC,WHOandlocal public health departments.PEOPLE has partnered with GoFundMeto raise money for the COVID-19 Relief Fund, a GoFundMe.org fundraiser to support everything from frontline responders to families in need, as well as organizations helping communities. For more information or to donate, clickhere.
source: people.com
