Biden Unveils Six-Pronged Strategy to Fight Spread of Covid, Including Sweeping Vaccine Mandates

President Joe Biden on Thursday announced sweeping new federal vaccine requirements affecting as many as 100 million Americans. (Courtesy YouTube)

On the same day former president Donald Trump — who is reportedly being paid millions of dollars to provide commentary for its upcoming pay-per-view boxing match between Evander Holyfield and Vitor Belfort for the company — called into the Triller Fight Club press conference and declared that were he to step into the ring, "My easiest fight would be Joe Biden,” the nation's current steward had more pressing matters on his mind.

Former President Donald Trump called into the #TrillerFightClub press conference to answer a few questions:

"My easiest fight would be Joe Biden. … I think Biden would go down within the first few seconds."

Watch full video: https://t.co/YHmBHqeA64 pic.twitter.com/YfI1UYteRx

— MMAFighting.com (@MMAFighting) September 9, 2021

"My job as president is to protect all Americans," President Biden said Thursday, as he addressed the nation to announce sweeping changes to its Covid-19 vaccine requirements."So tonight, I'm announcing that the Department of Labor is developing an emergency rule to require all employers with 100 or more employees that together employ over 80 million workers to ensure their workforces are fully vaccinated or show a negative test at least once a week." 

President Biden makes an appeal to unvaccinated Americans with a sweeping new plan to combat the latest Covid-19 surge in the US: “What more is there to wait for, what more do you need to see? We have made vaccinations free, safe and convenient.” https://t.co/QIJSiR5L37 pic.twitter.com/SW72vEaYvI

— CNN (@CNN) September 9, 2021

Biden's so-called six-pronged strategy focuses on:

• Reaching the unvaccinated
• Further protection for the vaccinated with booster shots
• Keeping schools open
• Boosts for testing and masking
• Economic recovery
• Improving care for those battling the virus

In addition to the Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration developing a rule requiring all employers with at least 100 employees to make sure their workforce is fully vaccinated or require unvaccinated workers to get a negative test at least once a week, Biden is signing an executive order to require vaccination for employees of the executive branch and contractors who do business with the federal government — with no option to test out.

He also announced requirements for health care providers that accept Medicare and Medicaid,  for the staffs of Head Start programs, Department of Defense Schools and Bureau of Indian Education-operated schools with companies that fail to comply facing fines of up to $14,000 per violation.

“We’ve been patient,” he said in a bitter rebuke to the millions of Americans who have chosen to not yet get vaccinated. "But our patience is wearing thin, and your refusal has cost all of us."