Governor JB Pritzker has announced that masks will be required for students, teachers, and staff at all pre-kindergarten through 12th grade schools and day care centers across the state. The governor was joined at a news conference Wednesday afternoon by Dr. Ngozi Ezike, the Director of the Illinois Department of Public Health.
The new requirement formalizes CDC guidance released last month on universal masking for both unvaccinated and vaccinated people in schools to ensure a safe return to classrooms.
In addition, Governor Pritzker announced his intent to require all state employees working in congregate facilities to receive the COVID-19 vaccine by October 4th. The state is informing the unions representing those employees of its intensions. The requirement will involve employees working for the Illinois Department of Corrections, Veterans Affairs, Human Services, and Juvenile Justice working in congregate facilities. The state is also requiring universal masking in private long-term care facilities and strongly encourages owners of those facilities to join the state in adopting vaccination requirements.
The new requirements are in response to a new surge in Delta variant cases among the unvaccinated across Illinois. ‘’Given our current trajectory in hospitalizations and ICU usage, we have a limited amount of time right now to stave off the highest peaks of this surge going into fall,’’ said Governor Pritzker.
Since COVID-19 metrics reached their lowest point earlier this summer, cases have soared nearly ten-fold. Hospitalizations and ICU rates have more than doubled over the past month statewide. And the number of COVID patients requiring a ventilator has multiplied nearly 2.5 times since July 16th. During June, 96-percent of people hospitalized in Illinois with COVID-19 were either unvaccinated or only partially vaccinated. And the majority of the hospitalizations have involved people under the age of 60.
The mask requirement for schools includes youth sports and activities, with masks now required for all indoor extracurriculars and sports. In line with CDC (Center for Disease Control) guidance, masks are not required for activities outdoors where transmission risks and rates are lower.
The Illinois Department of Public Health has also released additional guidance for students and staff who are exposed to someone who tests positive for COVID-19. The person who makes the close contact will now be able to remain in school if they receive testing on days one, three, five, and seven past the exposure, and if they wore a mask at the time of the exposure.
