|
 Pritzker, a Democrat, issued the new policy amid a resurgence of
COVID-19 cases spurred largely by the Delta variant of the virus and
increasing reports of "breakthrough" cases in which people already
vaccinated get infected.
The statewide mask mandate applies to anyone at least two years old
and will take effect on Monday.
"This is a pandemic of the unvaccinated," Pritzker told a news
conference. "People can slow the pandemic by masks and
vaccinations," he said.
"To put it bluntly, we are fighting a battle we thought would be
over," he said. "Unfortunately we're running out of time as all of
our hospitals are running out of beds."
Pritzker also said that any school employees exempt from the vaccine
- for religious or other reasons - will be tested at least once a
week.
[to top of second column] |
 On Monday, the Pfizer-BioNtech
vaccine was given full approval for use by the
federal government. But the Pfizer authorization
is for people ages 16 an older, not younger
children.
Pritzker's announcement came in the wake of
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot's recent order
requiring all city employees, including police
and firefighters, to be vaccinated or have proof
of a valid medical or religious exemption.
[L1N2PW1TR]
The policy in the third-largest U.S. city comes
as numerous other municipalities, school
districts and governments across the nation
grapple with masking and vaccination
requirements.
(Reporting by Rich McKay in Atlanta; Editing by
Bernadette Baum, Chizu Nomiyama and Dan Grebler)
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