Florida legislators debate COVID-19 protections for essential, frontline employees
Members of Florida House and Senate panels have expressed concerns that “essential” and front-line employees, who allege they contracted COVID-19 on the job, aren’t getting workers’ compensation. A state report shows that 29,400 pandemic-related workers’ compensation claims were filed as of December 31, including more than 13,400 claims filed by healthcare employees and educators. Claims related to COVID-19 accounted for 31 percent of workers’ comp claims filed in 2020, but payments on those claims accounted for less than 8 percent of the more than $727.3 million in workers’ comp payments last year. WLRN (Miami)
Texas governor seeking support for protecting businesses from COVID lawsuits
Touting his support for cutting regulations in the state, Texas Governor Greg Abbott is urging lawmakers to protect companies and individuals from COVID-19-related lawsuits. KXXV
Nevada county joins several already defying COVID order
Joining three other counties that already have done so, Lyon County, Nevada is the latest rural county to declare an economic emergency and decline to enforce the governor’s COVID-19 directives, which generally require face coverings for all business employees and patrons, limit room occupancy and require a well-sanitized environment, on the basis that they hurt businesses. Nevada Independent
German officials say AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine isn’t for people 65 and older
Germany’s vaccine commission said AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine, which is being developed with the University of Oxford, should not be used on people 65 and older due to “insufficient data” on its efficacy. Two German newspapers reported the shot was found to be as low as 8 percent effective in seniors, which the UK-based company said was “completely incorrect.” New York Post
Insurer responds as West Virginia fireman struggles to recover from COVID-19
The attorney for a 50-year-old Weirton, West Virginia fireman, who is on a ventilator due to having contracted COVID-19, says his workers’ compensation insurer has not opened a claim even though the entire shift tested positive for COVID-19, and so did most of the opposite shift. WTRF [with video]
Second virus case confirmed at Iowa Capitol
An official with the Iowa House last week reported that someone associated with the House tested positive for COVID-19 Wednesday, in the second-known positive case in the building since the beginning of the legislative session more than two weeks ago. House Speaker Pat Grassley has said he cannot enforce a mask mandate and he is not willing to have lawmakers removed if they refuse to comply. The Gazette