A MS Coast restaurant group played part in blocking of federal COVID vaccine mandate
The restaurant group representing Half Shell Oyster House and the Rackhouse on the Mississippi Coast was involved in litigation decided over the weekend that temporarily blocks a federal COVID-19 vaccine mandate for private employers.
The Gulfport and Biloxi seafood and steak restaurants’ corporate head, Gulf Coast Restaurant Group, joined the states of Mississippi, Texas, Louisiana, South Carolina, Utah and other conservative religious groups and companies in taking legal action against the Biden administration’s new COVID-19 vaccine requirement for businesses with 100 or more employees.
The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Louisiana on Saturday temporarily blocked the mandate set Thursday by the federal government, which requires workers of large private businesses to be vaccinated by Jan. 4 or face mask requirements and weekly tests.
“We are delighted to hear this news from the court,” said Kevin Fish, vice president of Gulf Coast Restaurant Group. “We know that hard-working Mississippians who were worried about potentially losing their jobs can take a huge sigh of relief.”
The Gulf Coast Restaurant Group is struggling with labor shortages and believes the vaccine mandate would lead to further staffing reductions and harm to its business and customers, according to The Mississippi Justice Institute, which represents them.
The court’s temporary block of the mandate comes as Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves on Friday announced the state’s attorney general had filed a lawsuit against the Biden administration’s vaccine mandate for federal contractors.
Attorney General Lynn Fitch represented the state of Mississippi in the lawsuit.
“I encourage everyone to consider vaccination, but the decision is yours and the President should not force anyone to vaccinate for fear of losing their jobs, especially not on the cusp of the holidays,” Fitch said.
This article and live event is supported by the Journalism and Public Information Fund, a fund of the Gulf Coast Community Foundation.
