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White House instructs businesses with 100 or more employees to follow vaccine mandate

Key updates
Key coronavirus updates from around the world
White House says employers shouldn’t wait for court cases to resolve before implementing vaccine mandates
Coronavirus falsehoods are widespread, new survey finds
A federal appeals court froze a vaccine mandate by President Biden's administration that is intended to push workers at businesses with more than 100 employees into getting coronavirus vaccines or weekly testing. (Frederic J. Brown/AFP/Getty Images)
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Updated November 8, 2021 at 11:30 p.m. EST|Published November 8, 2021 at 4:11 a.m. EST

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As the legal battle continues over the Biden administration’s vaccine mandate for private businesses, the White House is calling for employers to adhere to the new rules if their business has 100 or more employees.

Deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Monday that employers “should not wait” for legal matters to be settled before choosing to follow the order, which would take effect Jan. 4 unless blocked by the courts.

“We say do not wait to take actions that will keep your workplace safe. It is important and critical to do, and waiting to get more people vaccinated will lead to more outbreaks and sickness,” she said.  
Key coronavirus updates from around the world
White House says employers shouldn’t wait for court cases to resolve before implementing vaccine mandates
Coronavirus falsehoods are widespread, new survey finds

Here’s what to know

  • Thousands of federal workers sought religious exemptions to avoid getting vaccinated against the coronavirus ahead of the Monday deadline set by the government.
  • The United States reopened its international borders Monday to vaccinated travelers from 33 countries who can provide proof of a recent negative coronavirus test.
  • Under a policy being rolled out in Los Angeles on Monday, many types of indoor businesses will be required to verify their patrons’ vaccination status. Official enforcement of the policy, called SafePassLA, is set to begin Nov. 29.
  • The United States is finally reopening its land border to Canadians — but Canada’s rules could deter many.
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Here's what to know:

Thousands of federal workers sought religious exemptions to avoid getting vaccinated against the coronavirus ahead of the Monday deadline set by the government.
The United States reopened its international borders Monday to vaccinated travelers from 33 countries who can provide proof of a recent negative coronavirus test.
Under a policy being rolled out in Los Angeles on Monday, many types of indoor businesses will be required to verify their patrons’ vaccination status. Official enforcement of the policy, called SafePassLA, is set to begin Nov. 29.
The United States is finally reopening its land border to Canadians — but Canada’s rules could deter many.

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Coronavirus: What you need to know

Where do things stand? See the latest covid numbers in the U.S. and across the world. In the U.S., pandemic trends have shifted and now White people are more likely to die from covid than Black people.

The state of public health: Conservative and libertarian forces have defanged much of the nation’s public health system through legislation and litigation as the world staggers into the fourth year of covid.

Grief and the pandemic: A Washington Post reporter covered the coronavirus — and then endured the death of her mother from covid-19. She offers a window into grief and resilience.

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

Vaccines: The CDC recommends that everyone age 5 and older get an updated covid booster shot. New federal data shows adults who received the updated shots cut their risk of being hospitalized with covid-19 by 50 percent. Here’s guidance on when you should get the omicron booster and how vaccine efficacy could be affected by your prior infections.

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