In a press conference Thursday afternoon, Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings said the county had 1,409 new COVID-19 cases reported yesterday. He also stated that 98% of those new cases are in unvaccinated people.

The 14-day rolling positivity rate in Orange County is now up to 20.83%.

The local state of emergency has been extended.

You may remember that on July 30th, the Walt Disney Company issued a statement mandating all of its US cast members to get fully vaccinated against COVID-19 within 60 days. This mandate came after the policy of wearing face masks at all indoor locations was reinstated.

Union leaders who represent thousands of Walt Disney World cast members have been in negotiations with Disney in hopes of coming to an agreement regarding the vaccine mandate.

Unite Here Local 737’s President Jeremy Haicken released the following statement to Spectrum News today:

UNITE HERE Local 737, along with the other 5 unions of the Services Trade Council, does not have an agreement in place with Disney regarding Disney’s vaccine mandate. We continue to negotiate with Disney. We are especially concerned that unionized workers with medical or religious concerns will be accommodated fairly.

UNITE Here Local 737 has taken many steps to encourage our members to be vaccinated against COVID-19. The vaccines are safe and effective in preventing serious illness and death. We hope that all hospitality workers in Central Florida will get the vaccine as soon as possible. Any workers who feel unsure about the vaccine should make that decision with their own doctor.