Biden announces new vaccine mandates that could cover 100 million Americans

U.S President Joe Biden, on Thursday, imposed strict new vaccine rules on federal workers, large employers and health care staff in a sweeping attempt to contain the latest surge of Covid-19 infections and stop the anti-vaccine movement.

At the center of Biden’s new plan is directing the Labor Department to require all businesses with 100 or more employees to ensure their workers are either vaccinated or tested once a week, an expansive step the President took after consultation with administration health officials and lawyers. Companies could face thousands of dollars in fines per employee if they don’t comply.

Biden also signed an executive order requiring all government employees to be vaccinated against Covid-19, with no option of being regularly tested to opt-out. The President signed an accompanying order directing the same standard to be applied to employees of contractors who do business with the federal government.

Biden administration’s plan would require the 17 million health care workers at facilities receiving funds from Medicare and Medicaid to be fully vaccinated, expanding the mandate to hospitals, home care facilities and dialysis centers around the country.

The president also announced a major expansion to free testing, a step public health officials have said is critical to containing the virus, particularly as children return to school and some workers return to offices.

In addition, Biden called on large entertainment venues to require proof of vaccination or negative tests for patrons seeking entry. And he said the Transportation Safety Administration would double fines on passengers who refuse to wear masks on planes.

The new requirements could apply to as many as 100 million Americans, close to two-thirds of the American workforce, and amount to Biden’s strongest push yet to require vaccines for much of the country.

Administration officials acknowledged the requirement for large employers could be challenged in court. But they said their hope was to provide cover of federal rules to businesses who want to require vaccines for employees.

The new rules come as the Delta variant spreads through communities across the states, causing upticks in hospitalizations and deaths particularly in areas where vaccination rates remain low.