NCH Under Investigation for Breaking FL COVID-19 Passport Law

October 22, 2021 Updated 8:53 A.M. ET 

NAPLES, FL – In the past several months, Naples Community Hospital (NCH) began heavily pushing COVID-19 vaccine mandates. The healthcare system ended September with dozens of employees “voluntarily resigning” from their positions for either refusing the vaccine or not qualifying for an exemption. 

If an employee receives a medical or religious exemption, there are strict guidelines that must be followed, such as being required to wear an N-95 mask at all times and wearing a new badge that identifies them as being unvaccinated. 

The original NCH employee badge shows the employee’s name, job title, photo of employee, and branch that they are part of. On the new badge, there is a light blue line behind the employee’s name. After speaking with an NCH staff member, Florida’s Voice was informed that if she refused to drive to a separate NCH location to receive the new badge, she would be taken off the schedule until she does so.  

Last week, employees were sent an email regarding NCH being on the complaint list for “potentially violating” the Florida no-vaccine passport law. The email claims that NCH does not require proof of vaccination against COVID-19 for patients or guests. The email goes on to say, “We are in compliance with Florida Law. NCH’s inclusion of COVID-19 vaccine as a condition of employment applies to NCH employees, contract staff, and volunteers only…”  

Fort Myers News Press reported on Florida’s investigations into several companies, including NCH, that could result in fines of $5,000 per infraction of the law.

At the time of reporting, the state investigation has not been publicly concluded.