President Biden issues a warning to Florida and Texas to “get out of the way” of vaccine rules aimed at containing the more transmissible and dangerous COVID-19 variant. He backed city and private mandates requiring people to be vaccinated to go about some daily activities.

Speaking Tuesday from the White House, Biden sharply criticized Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and other officials who have moved to block the reimposition of mask mandates to slow the delta strain of the virus. The strain is surging in their states and other parts of the country that have large numbers of unvaccinated people. The president did not address the thousands of migrants who are streaming across the Texas border who are testing positive for COVID and being released into the population.

“If you’re not going to help, at least get out of the way of people trying to do the right thing,” Biden said.

Meanwhile Florida Governor Ron DeSantis says his office is monitoring emergency room visits for COVID here’s what he says about the case count.

DeSantis added that Florida and its schools will not shut down because previous interventions have failed to stop the spread.