WASHINGTON: The US Supreme Court on Friday is set to consider requests by Republican state officials and business groups to block President Joe Biden’s vaccine mandate for employers with more than 100 workers and a similar requirement for healthcare facilities at a time of surging COVID-19 cases nationwide.

The nine justices are scheduled to hear at least two hours of arguments beginning at 10 a.m. EST (1500 GMT) in two cases that present a test of presidential powers to combat a public health crisis that has left more than 830,000 Americans dead.