US Supreme Court blocks Biden vaccine-or-test mandate for businesses

(AFP) — The US Supreme Court delivered a blow to President Joe Biden on Thursday, blocking his Covid vaccine-or-test mandate for large businesses.

In a divided ruling, the nation’s highest court allowed a vaccine mandate for health care workers at facilities receiving federal funding to go ahead.

WASHINGTON, DC – JANUARY 07: A view of the U.S. Supreme Court on Capitol Hill on January 07, 2022 in Washington, DC. Today the Justices of the Supreme Court are hearing arguments against U.S. President Joe Biden’s private sector Covid-19 vaccination rules. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images/AFP

But the court’s six conservative justices ruled against Biden’s bid announced in September to make Covid vaccinations or weekly testing compulsory at companies that employ 100 workers or more.

The three liberal justices dissented.

The vaccination mandate for health care workers was approved in a 5-4 vote, with Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Brett Kavanaugh, both conservatives, joining the three liberals.