Biden mandates vaccinations or tests at large companies by Jan. 4 — $14,000 fine included

Tens of millions of Americans who work at companies with 100 or more employees will need to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by Jan. 4 or get tested for the virus weekly under a new federal mandate.

The new requirements are the Biden administration’s boldest move yet to persuade people to get vaccinated. If successful, administration officials believe it will go a long way toward ending a pandemic that already has claimed the lives of 750,000 Americans.

But at least two conservative groups moved quickly to file lawsuits and more are on the way — with one attorney general calling the mandate “garbage.”

The requirements will apply to about 84 million workers at medium and large businesses.

“Many of our members have already done this,” said Christopher Geehern, executive vice president of Associated Industries of Massachusetts. “If there’s an area of concern it’s is there a lot of record-keeping requirements?”

Retailers expressed concerns about the Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations, which will force companies to require that unvaccinated workers test negative for COVID-19 at least once a week and wear a mask while in the workplace.

Gov. Charlie Baker said he expects a “significant” increase in the availability of cheaper and more accurate test kits moving into the fall.

Companies that fail to comply with the regulations could face penalties of $14,000 per violation, OSHA said.

The agency asked for public comment on whether employers with fewer than 100 employees could handle vaccination or testing programs.

“Vaccines are important,” said Jon Hurst, president of the Retailers Association of Massachusetts. “My concern is are they imposing too much red tape, creating too much liability and putting small businesses in peril with these fines.”

Tougher rules will apply to another 17 million people working in nursing homes, hospitals and other facilities that receive money from Medicare and Medicaid. Those workers will not have an option for testing; they will need to be vaccinated unless they are exempt on medical or religious grounds.

The requirements will not apply to people who work at home or outdoors.

Biden framed the issue as a simple choice between getting more people vaccinated or prolonging the pandemic.

Biden said his encouragement for businesses to impose mandates and his own previous requirements for the military and federal contractors have helped reduce the number of unvaccinated Americans over 12 from 100 million in late July to about 60 million now.

Those measures have not led to mass firings or worker shortages, he said, adding that vaccines have been required before to fight other diseases.

Erin Tiernan and Herald wire services contributed to this report.

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/2Yi5wGx