Collier County fighting Covid-related mandates

Collier County has been a battleground in the fight against Covid-related mandates.

At Tuesday’s meeting, commissioners considered a new ordinance to protect people’s healthcare rights and freedoms.

It would ban Covid vaccine mandates, vaccine passports, and quarantines. And reject health directives by the World Health Organization.

There were people on both sides at Tuesday’s meeting. Almost 30 of them spoke during public comment.

Those favoring the ordinance said that government or national organizations shouldn’t dictate medicine. While others believe there are bigger issues to tackle in Collier County.

Scott Kiley from Marco Island supports the ordinance and said the resolution is not a law.

“It is a resolve in saying we will not close businesses without due process. We will not quarantine the healthy. We will not support tyranny from above the violates our constitution,” Kiley said. “We will not separate loved ones at their time of death. We will foster free speech that allows doctors and patients to share openly. We will not so casually close our schools.”

Commissioners voted unanimously to bring the ordinance forward at their next meeting on April 11.