Coffeehouse chain Starbucks has suspended its Covid-19 vaccine-or-test requirement for US employees. The move follows a ruling to block vaccine mandates for large businesses by the US Supreme Court earlier this month.
Previously, Starbucks had said it would require its 220,000 US employees to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 or take weekly Covid-19 tests. However, after the Biden administration’s vaccination-or-testing mandate was struck down, Starbucks has suspended its policy.
"We respect the court's ruling and will comply," wrote Starbucks Chief Operating Officer John Culver in a memo to staff, though added that Starbucks continues to “believe strongly in the spirit and intent of the mandate.” He encouraged employees to get the vaccine.
According to the memo, over 90% of the coffeehouse chain’s employees have already disclosed their vaccination status, with the vast majority having been fully vaccinated against the virus.
In the United States, the current 7-day average of daily new coronavirus cases is 744,616. While this is a 5% decrease from the previous week, rates of the virus remain high in the nation.
