Biden says federal workers must be vaccinated or undergo regular testing, masks and social distancing

President Biden announced Thursday that he will require all federal workers to be vaccinated against the coronavirus or submit to frequent testing.

Biden laid out a plan incentivizing Americans to take the vaccine, including paid time off to get vaccinated and $100 payments to Americans who get vaccinated, paid for by government. The president also said that federal workers will be forced to take the vaccine or be required to be tested regularly.

"It's time to impose requirements on key groups to make sure they are vaccinated," Biden said. "Every federal government employee will be asked to attest to their vaccination status. Anyone who does not attest will be required to mask no matter where they work and test 1-2 times a week, socially distance, and will generally not be allowed to travel for work."

Biden said that will also apply to federal contractors. 

"From the moment I was elected I said I'd always give it to you straight from the shoulder, we need straight talk right now," Biden said, adding that his experts tell him coronavirus cases will rise before they drop. 

Biden reiterated his previous claim that the coronavirus pandemic is a "pandemic of the unvaccinated" and called the situation an "American tragedy."

The new rule will apply to roughly four million people who work for the federal government.