Workers have until Jan. 4 to comply with OSHA's vaccine mandate

Millions of Americans now have until Jan. 4 to get vaccinated or to test weekly for COVID-19 if they work at a company with more than 100 employees.

According to the Associated Press, the new guidelines were issued Thursday by OSHA, and it will apply to roughly 84 million Americans.

This move comes as many companies have already adopted similar guidelines ahead of the Jan. 5 deadline.

OSHA said it will leave open the possibility of expanding the vaccine mandate to smaller businesses as well if people continually refuse to get vaccinated.

More stringent requirements are put in place for government-funded nursing homes and hospitals where workers are defying the mandate.

All workers will be able to ask for a religious or medical exemption, but the requirements for meeting such exemptions are left up to each individual company.

If a person works at home, or outdoors, they do not have to get vaccinated.

"While I would have much preferred that requirements not become necessary, too many people remain unvaccinated for us to get out of this pandemic for good," President Biden said in a statement.

If companies fail to comply, OSHA will fine them $14,000 per violation.