President Biden to Announce New Mandate

President Joe Biden will announce Thursday a new vaccine mandate directing large businesses to ensure workers are vaccinated or tested weekly. The order would apply to over 100 million Americans, according to the White House.

The Labor Department will require all businesses with over 100 employees to ensure their workers are either vaccinated or tested weekly. Companies that do not comply are subject to thousands of dollars in fines per employee.

“The expectation is if you want to work in the federal government or want to be a contractor, you need to be vaccinated,” press secretary Jen Psaki said

The mandate accompanies a series of moves President Biden is set to announce in a speech tonight from the White House. He plans to sign an executive order requiring all government employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19 without the alternate option of weekly testing. A separate order will direct all employees of contractors who work with the federal government to be vaccinated as well. Federal employees will have 75 days to get vaccinated or risk termination.

The President will also release funds from Medicare and Medicaid to 17 million healthcare workers at facilities receiving funds to be vaccinated.

The Defense Production Act will also reportedly be invoked by the President. The act is a wartime measure that directs companies to manufacture essential supplies, which will be used be to accelerate the production of rapid testing. Twenty-five million U.S. health clinics will receive free tests.

The Transportation Safety Administration will also double fines for passengers who refuse to wear masks on planes. The President will also encourage large entertainment venues to require vaccinations or negative tests for patrons.

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