Face Masks

The hearing began with plaintiffs’ attorneys calling medical doctors as witnesses, with arguments centered mostly on the efficacy of wearing masks to help the spread of COVID-19.

The Pinellas County School Board decided against a motion that would have called for a vote on requiring students and staff to wear masks.

Duval County Public Schools has joined the growing list of Florida school districts defying Gov. Ron DeSantis’ ban on school face mask mandates.

A recent survey of voters indicates this strategy isn't hurting at a time when DeSantis is also at odds with many parents, doctors and several local school districts over student mask policies.

The parents are challenging an executive order by Gov. Ron DeSantis that seeks to block county school boards from requiring students to wear masks.

Pinellas Safe Schools is asking for mandatory masks for all students and school employees for 60 days, plus more timely quarantine notifications.

South Florida students who are especially vulnerable to COVID-19 may not be able to attend school at all if their classmates aren't wearing masks, their parents argue.

The change would be in violation of rules enacted to enforce Gov. Ron DeSantis’ executive order requiring parents to make mask decisions for their children.

"School isn’t really known for its freedoms," Holmes said.

It's giving school officials in Alachua and Broward counties 48 hours to reverse course on requiring parents to submit doctors’ notes to opt out of mask mandates or risk losing district funds.

A legal battle over Gov. Ron DeSantis’ attempts to prevent school mask mandates will go ahead next week after a circuit judge refused to dismiss the case Thursday.

Florida’s largest school district is joining Alachua and Broward in requiring students to wear face coverings. The moves go against an executive order by Gov. Ron DeSantis requiring such policies to be voluntary.