 The governor also 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 these employees of its intention to move forward with
this requirement, which covers employees at the Departments of Human
Services, Veterans’ Affairs, Corrections 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 private facilities to join the state in
adopting vaccination requirements.
The new measures are part of the state’s ongoing effort to combat a
new surge as the Delta variant rapidly spreads among the
unvaccinated. Since COVID-19 metrics reached their lowest points
earlier this summer, cases have soared by a factor of nearly 10,
hospitalizations and ICU rates have more than doubled in a month,
and the number of COVID patients requiring a ventilator has
multiplied nearly 2.5 times over since July 16th. In June, 96
percent of people hospitalized in Illinois with COVID-19 were
unvaccinated or only partially vaccinated, with the majority of
those hospitalizations occurring in residents under 60 years old.
“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 the fall,” said Governor JB Pritzker.
“To combat the Delta variant, Illinois is taking three key steps to
protect our state’s 1.8 million unvaccinated children under 12 and
their families, residents and staff of long-term care facilities,
and those highly vulnerable people who rely upon state employees for
their daily care. I also encourage every Illinoisan who is eligible
to get vaccinated as soon as possible, as millions of their
neighbors already have. This vaccine is safe, effective, and
essentially eliminates the risk of hospitalization and death even
from the Delta variant. In short, it’s the best tool we have.”
“Vaccination is the best way we can prevent further spread,
hospitalizations, and deaths due to COVID-19 and the Delta variant,”
said IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike. “Data show that the vaccines are
preventing severe illness, hospitalization, and death, and are
effective against the Delta variant. We have the tools to turn the
tide of another wave, but we need people to use them.”
Mask Requirement
In preparation for the start of the upcoming school year and in
response to the highly contagious Delta variant, all students,
teachers, and staff at pre-kindergarten – 12th grade schools and day
cares will be required to wear masks regardless of vaccination
status, effective immediately. This guidance is in line with
recommendations from the CDC.
The state is also requiring universal masking in long-term care
facilities regardless of vaccination status.
Illinois is home to 1.8 million children under the age of 12 who are
not yet eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. With the Delta
variant infecting the younger population at a greater rate and with
people under 29 years old now accounting for 12 percent of COVID
hospitalizations in June, requiring the use of masks is the most
effective tool to allow students to return to their classrooms
safely while protecting them from the virus. Mask wearing will also
help prevent unvaccinated students from transmitting the virus to
more vulnerable members of their broader communities.
The mask requirement is inclusive of youth sports and activities,
with masks now required for all indoor extracurriculars and sports.
In line with CDC guidance, masks are not required for activities
outdoors where transmission risks and rates are lower.
The administration is providing free testing to all pre-K-12 schools
in Illinois outside of Chicago, which received a separate federal
funding allocation for testing.
IDPH also provided additional guidance for students and staff who
are exposed to someone who tests positive for COVID-19. Close
contacts of a positive case can remain in school if they receive
testing on days one, three, five, and seven post exposure and if
they wore masks at the time of exposure.
“The CDC strengthened its guidance last week for universal indoor
masking in schools, and Illinois will continue to follow the
science, data, and public health experts to keep students in school
and keep communities safe,” said State Superintendent of Education
Dr. Carmen I. Ayala. “We know that consistent and correct mask use
is the simplest, most effective way to keep students safely in
school, where they can learn and grow to their fullest potential.”
A number of school districts across the state have already adopted
CDC guidance and implemented a mask requirement to help prevent the
spread of COVID-19 among students, teachers, and staff and the
communities they live in. Those districts include the state’s two
largest school districts, Chicago and Elgin U-46, as well as
Edwardsville Community School District 7, Peoria Public School
District 150, Champaign Unit 4 School District, Springfield School
District 186, and Naperville School District 203.
[to top of second column] |
To help schools across the state protect the health
and safety of students and staff, the Illinois Emergency Management
Agency (IEMA) has distributed 2.5 million free face masks to public
schools since the beginning of the pandemic. The free masks grant
every child the ability to access the learning opportunities
provided by their school in person, regardless of their ability to
purchase a face covering or make one at home. The administration
will continue to supply masks to school districts as they request
assistance.
COVID-19 Vaccination
From the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Pritzker
administration has implemented policies and guidelines in accordance
with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) aimed at
protecting the state’s most vulnerable residents. With the Delta
variant causing a rapid increase in infection rates across the
nation and Illinois, the state is taking additional steps to slow
the spread of the virus in congregate facilities, where residents
are most vulnerable.
With vaccination rates among residents in state congregate
facilities largely being significantly higher than rates among
staff, approximately 80 percent of the new COVID-19 cases in
state-operated congregate care facilities have been due to infection
among employees. However, the individuals in these facilities, who
frequently lack the ability to live on their own, are bearing the
brunt of the consequences of unvaccinated workers as their
hospitalization rate due to the virus increases.
The state is notifying the unions representing all employees who
work in 24-7 state-operated congregate living facilities of the
intent to require that these employees receive the COVID-19 vaccine
by October 4th. This includes employees who work in state veterans’
homes, developmental centers, correctional facilities, and juvenile
justice facilities. Increased vaccination rates will help prevent
and slow community spread, reduce the likelihood of infecting
vulnerable populations, and allow for potentially less-severe
illnesses for those who contract COVID-19 post vaccination. State
agency leaders will ensure ongoing vaccination opportunities for
employees at state-run facilities, as they have since vaccine was
first made available to employees.
Governor Pritzker urged privately-owned and operated long-term care
facilities to implement a similar vaccination requirement for their
employees to protect the vulnerable residents they serve.
“As the highly contagious Delta variant continues to spread and
evolve, our state guidance needs to do so as well,” said House
Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch. “We know vaccines save lives and
build herd immunity in our communities, so it is imperative that we
encourage everyone to get theirs. But with the lower rate of
vaccinations among teens and younger children not yet eligible to
receive theirs, these are the difficult decisions our leaders must
make to prevent illness and save lives.”
“When we follow medical science, we make progress against this
pandemic. I applaud the governor for continuing to follow the
science to protect the people of Illinois,” said Illinois Senate
President Don Harmon.
“Keeping our veterans safe and healthy is a top priority, especially
those in our state-operated long-term care facilities who were hit
hardest early on in this pandemic,” said State Senator Tom Cullerton
(D- Villa Park), Chair of the Senate Veterans Affairs committee. “I
commend the governor for taking the necessary actions needed to
protect the most vulnerable in the state, as well as the workers who
care for the veterans who have sacrificed so much for our country.”
"I want to thank Governor Pritzker for taking steps to secure the
safety and welfare of our residents. These decisions are not easy,
however not making decisions is not an option when the health and
lives of Illinoisans are at stake,” said State Rep. Fred Crespo
(D-Hoffman Estates). “As he did in the past, Governor Pritzker is
following the science, which is the only way to combat this
pandemic. This is not a political issue, it's a very serious health
issue. The sooner we act, the more successful we'll be in
controlling the Corona Delta variant."
“Anything we can do to protect our most precious children who are
still unable to receive vaccinations is essential. We have to do
everything in our power to keep the COVID numbers down,” said State
Rep. Sue Scherer (D-Decatur).
All Illinois residents over the age of 12 are eligible to receive
the COVID-19 vaccine at no cost and proof of immigration status is
not required to receive the vaccine. To find a vaccination center
near you, go to vaccines.gov.
[Office of the Governor JB Pritzker] |
