ELK GROVE VILLAGE, Ill. (Fwrd Axis) — President Joe Biden made the case for Covid vaccine mandates for businesses in a visit to Illinois on Thursday as new poll numbers show support for his handling of Covid is fading.
Speaking from Elk Grove, Illinois, Biden called on businesses to require their employees to get vaccinated ahead of the federal government announcing requirements in just a matter of weeks.
“I’m calling more employers to act,” Biden said. “My message is, require your employees to get vaccinated with vaccinations we’re going to beat this pandemic finally. Without them, we face endless months of chaos in our hospitals, damage to our economy, and anxiety in our schools and empty restaurants and much less commerce.”
Biden’s remarks come less than a month when he announced a mandate requiring companies with 100 or more employees to either get fully vaccinated or be regularly tested. The Department of Labor is weeks away from announcing more details on an emergency rule but the President urged those companies to act now instead of later.
The President has seen his approval rating slide over the past few months following the fallout over his handling in Afghanistan and over his handling of the pandemic after a surge of the Delta variant led to the return of mask mandates in several states and hospitals being overwhelmed. A new Quinnipiac poll shows 48 percent approving of his handling of the pandemic and 50 percent disapproving, down from 65 percent that approved in May.
Overall, Biden’s approval rating has slipped after months of negative headlines. An average of polls from 538 shows 48 percent approve of Biden’s job performance and 44 percent disapprove.
More than 200,000 people have died from Covid since Biden took office in January despite the administration’s push to get everyone fully vaccinated. The majority of those who passed away since Biden’s term began have been unvaccinated or those who refused to get the shot.
“We have a plan, we have the tools, we’re using them we’re making progress, we just have to finish the job, finish the job. So for god’s sake, For your own sake, for the sake of your families get vaccinated,” Biden said.
During his remarks, Biden told a story about a close friend, who was struggling to get their significant other seen by a doctor because the hospital was so overwhelmed with Covid patients. The President then helped his friend by calling a local Pennsylvania hospital.
“Because I knew this person I called the desk, the receiving nurse, and asked what the situation was, and I wasn’t complaining because they’re getting the living hell kicked out of them,” Biden said. “The person was eventually treated, Biden said, but “it took a while” because “the vast majority of the emergency room docs were occupied taking care of Covid patients.”
The White House is using Biden’s visit to try and change the public perception of how the President is handling the ever-changing pandemic. Prior to taking office, Biden said he felt his presidency would be ultimately judged on how he handles the coronavirus pandemic.
The White House announced Wednesday they would be spending $1 billion for at-home Covid tests to be made available at health clinics, food banks, and schools.
