Joe Biden announces new vaccine mandates for 100 million Americans

President Joe Biden issued sweeping new federal vaccine mandates for as many as 100 million Americans on Thursday, including private-sector employees, health-care professionals, and federal contractors, in an all-out effort to halt the spread of the COVID-19 delta strain.

Despite months of availability and incentives, tens of millions of Americans have not yet been vaccinated, according to Biden, who spoke at the White House.

Biden's new restrictions are in response to a rising COVID-19 epidemic caused by the virus's delta version and tens of millions of Americans who refuse to be vaccinated.

Add WION as a Preferred Source

Federal employees who do not comply might be fired, and private firms could face fines, according to the government.

Watch:

Biden also levelled some of his harshest criticism yet at the 25% of adults in the United States who have not yet been immunised, claiming that they are prolonging the pandemic, which has claimed more than 650,000 lives in the United States.

"My message to unvaccinated Americans is this: What more is there to wait for? What more do you need to see? " 'He said "We've been patient, but our patience is wearing thin. And your refusal has cost all of us, so please, do the right thing."

His latest plan, the president said, would "combat those blocking public health" and also "protects our economy and will make our kids safer in schools."

The Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration will establish an emergency regulation mandating companies with 100 or more employees to compel employees to get vaccinated or tested weekly, as well as to provide paid time off to get inoculated, under Biden's new strategy.

According to one official, employers might face fines of roughly $14,000 per infringement.

According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 177 million Americans are completely vaccinated against the coronavirus, yet confirmed cases have risen to an average of nearly 140,000 per day in recent weeks, with an average of around 1,000 deaths.

(With inputs from agencies)