The Labor Department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced it will defer its implementation of the Biden administration's new vaccine mandate, which requires employers to either obligate their workers to get vaccinated or undergo regular testing.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, known to be quite conservative, ordered OSHA on Friday to stop enforcing the rule. The White House previously displayed optimism that the courts will endorse the mandate.

In response to the Fifth Circuit’s decision to press pause, the Biden administration informed that ceasing execution of vaccine obligations “would likely cost dozens or even hundreds of lives per day” as Covid-19 continues to spread.

Republican officials have filed lawsuits against the mandate in nearly 30 states, declaring that it is unconstitutional. Federal appeals courts also claimed its conditions surpass authorities given to the federal government.

“We think people should not wait. We say: Do not wait to take actions that will keep your workplace safe,” White House deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said. “We’re trying to get past this pandemic, and we know the way to do that is to get people vaccinated.”

The Biden administration believes that the mandate will help bring an end to the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S., with White House chief of staff Ron Klain ​​calling the mandate a “common sense” move.

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