Appeals court stays vaccine mandate on larger businesses

A federal appeals court has temporarily halted the Biden administration’s vaccine requirement for businesses with 100 or more workers.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A federal appeals court has temporarily halted the Biden administration’s vaccine requirement for businesses with 100 or more workers. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Saturday granted an emergency stay of the requirement by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration that those workers be vaccinated by Jan. 4, or face mask requirements and weekly tests.

Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry, a Republican, said the court action halts Democratic President Joe Biden’s administration from moving forward with what he called “unlawful overreach.” The president has been encouraging widespread vaccinations as the quickest way out of the pandemic. The Biden administration had no immediate comment.