Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has threatened to impose a hefty fine for any entity, including government entities, that require employees to get vaccinated against COVID-19, threatening a $5,000 fine for each violation in his state.

DeSantis said at a news conference Monday that this fine is a way to "stand up for freedom" to the workers who could face being fired by employers that require proof of vaccination.

“This is political, it’s about using government power to control,” he said. “We’re going to protect these jobs, we’re going to protect livelihoods and we’re going to protect families.”

The $5,000 fine will be implemented for each individual violation as a follow-up to legislation DeSantis signed in May.

DeSantis said vaccines are "available for all, but mandatory for none" and employees that mandate proof of vaccination may face “millions and millions of dollars potentially in fines.”

CNN noted that DeSantis’ announcement of fines was received with a sharp backlash from local county officials across the state.

This is not the first time that DeSantis has gone after COVID-19 safety protocols. Earlier this month, Second Circuit Judge John Cooper ruled against him and allowed Florida schools to issue mask mandates. However, a ruling by an appeals court reinstated the mask mandate ban last week.

DeSantis’ fine threats come as a direct contradiction to President Joe Biden’s recent COVID immunization campaign that would require private companies with more than 100 workers to ensure employees are either vaccinated against the virus or tested weekly. It also requires all government employees to be vaccinated with no weekly testing substitution option.

In Florida, USAFacts.org reports that over 65% of the population has received at least one dose of the vaccine while 54% of eligible people are fully vaccinated.

RELATED STORIES
Coronavirus