What you should know about the federal vaccine mandates

On Jan. 13, the Supreme Court blocked the Biden administration from enforcing a vaccination-or-testing requirement for large employers. Here’s what to know. (Video: Julie Yoon/The Washington Post)

Millions of Americans are now or will soon be required to get vaccinated under new federal mandates.

Federal employees, government contractors and health-care workers are covered under new Biden administration rules that allow medical and religious exemptions but generally do not allow regular testing and masking in lieu of vaccination.

An emergency order from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), which affects employees at companies with 100 or more workers not covered by other federal mandates, does allow for testing and masking.

The mandates have stirred political and legal brawls across the nation, pitting states against the federal government, local governments against their states, and employees against employers. The mandates for health-care facilities and private employers have both been blocked in courts, though the cases still must work their way through the appeals process. Critics have said the requirements constitute federal overreach and force Americans to choose between their livelihoods and medical autonomy.

The Biden administration says mandates will “save lives, protect the economy, and accelerate the path out of the pandemic.”

Coronavirus: What you need to know

End of the public health emergency: The Biden administration ended the public health emergency for the coronavirus pandemic on May 11, just days after WHO said it would no longer classify the coronavirus pandemic as a public health emergency. Here’s what the end of the covid public health emergency means for you.

Tracking covid cases, deaths: Covid-19 was the fourth leading cause of death in the United States last year with covid deaths dropping 47 percent between 2021 and 2022. See the latest covid numbers in the U.S. and across the world.

The latest on coronavirus boosters: The FDA cleared the way for people who are at least 65 or immune-compromised to receive a second updated booster shot for the coronavirus. Here’s who should get the second covid booster and when.

New covid variant: A new coronavirus subvariant, XBB. 1.16, has been designated as a “variant under monitoring” by the World Health Organization. The latest omicron offshoot is particularly prevalent in India. Here’s what you need to know about Arcturus.

Would we shut down again? What will the United States do the next time a deadly virus comes knocking on the door?

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