Status: 10.09.2021 01:59 a.m.
In view of the many corona infections, the US government has adopted new measures. President Biden, in very clear terms, called for rapid progress in the vaccination campaign. There is a compulsory vaccination for civil servants.
“Many of us are frustrated by the nearly 80 million Americans who are still not vaccinated, even though vaccinations are safe, effective and free,” said US President Joe Biden in the White House that evening, apparently wanting to put pressure on the unvaccinated increase in the country.
“Get vaccinated,” he demanded, saying that patience was running out. “A certain minority of Americans, supported by a certain minority of elected representatives, prevents us from getting over the mountain,” said Biden.
Only around 53 percent fully vaccinated
The vaccination campaign in the USA is hardly making any progress despite many incentives. So far, 53.4 percent of the approximately 330 million people in the country are fully vaccinated against the coronavirus. About 63 percent received the first injection. The corona vaccinations are approved for adolescents from the age of twelve and adults. In the population group aged twelve and over, 62.5 percent are fully vaccinated.
Compulsory vaccination for civil servants
Biden presented a “six-point strategy” against the corona pandemic in the White House. This includes stricter vaccination requirements for federal employees. From now on, all employees of federal authorities and employees of government contractors are required to be vaccinated.
The only exceptions to the compulsory vaccination are religious and medical reasons, said White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki.
In addition, companies with more than 100 employees will need to ensure that their employees are vaccinated or tested once a week. The requirement is to be introduced via an emergency ordinance from the Ministry of Labor, as Biden said. “We will protect vaccinated workers from unvaccinated colleagues.” According to Biden, the new regulations apply to around 100 million people.
Higher penalties for mask violators
In addition, the US government is doubling the fines for mask refusers at airports, train stations and when traveling on planes, trains and buses. A first-time violation of the mask requirement can be punished with a fine of 500 to 1000 dollars (420 to 840 euros) from Friday, as the Department of Homeland Security announced. Repeat offenders would now face fines of $ 1,000 to $ 3,000.
The rule therefore applies above all to travel between states that are under the supervision of the Transport Safety Authority (TSA). The TSA had recently extended the requirement to wear a mask in travel to mid-January of next year.
Deterioration especially in the south
In the future, all employees in hospitals and health care facilities who accept payments from state health insurances will have to be vaccinated against corona.
The USA has seen a dramatic increase in the number of infections in the past few weeks, which is mainly due to the spread of the delta variant. The CDC reported nearly 140,000 new infections and around 1,100 deaths per day on a weekly average.
Republican-ruled states in the southern United States such as Florida, Texas and Mississippi, where hospitals are again increasingly overburdened, are severely affected.