The vast majority of workers nationwide have had no extra paid days to take off while recovering from a coronavirus diagnosis or caring for an infected family member since the fall, when Congress allowed a law that gave tax credits to businesses that offered supplemental Covid leave to expire.

President Joe Biden is exploring whether to revive a Covid sick leave program Congress let expire last year, but any mandate on employers would likely be stonewalled by Republicans in the Senate — who declined to extend it even under a friendly Trump administration.

California and Illinois are considering laws that would give extra sick time to employees like school staff and food service workers, who have staged protests in recent weeks over a lack of Covid protections. California lawmakers are scheduled to vote this week on a temporary mandate pushed by Gov. Gavin Newsom.