Illinois – Illinois governor, Gov. J.B. Pritzker is expected to strengthen his efforts to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic’s delta variant as school starts to reopen by requiring all educators from kindergarten to college to be vaccinated.
Furthermore, the governor also plans to implement a statewide mandate of masking people ages 2 and above. According to two sources who are familiar with the governor’s actions, this mandate requires people ages 2 and above to wear masks in indoor locations as the delta variant has led to increased hospitalizations among younger people and the unvaccinated, along with “breakthrough cases” among those who are vaccinated.
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With the schools preparing for more in-person learning, Pritzker earlier this month ordered a masking mandate for all students, faculty, and staff in early childhood learning centers as well as elementary and high schools. He also stated that schools and districts that do not comply will face sanctions, including the possible loss of state funding and participation in Illinois High School Association athletics.
“I realize that there are people who like to show up and shout at local school boards, at the local school board members. But the reality is that the vast majority of people in Illinois want to make sure that the children of Illinois, their parents, and their communities are safe. And having a mask mandate operative in schools will help to do that,” he said.
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Pritzker said on Tuesday that he is serious about penalizing school districts that defied his masking mandate, citing several schools in neighboring states that have closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
On Wednesday, the governor dismissed a radio commentator after criticizing his mitigation efforts. After the commentator debated the efficacy of masking, Pritzker concluded that she had a political agenda and spread misinformation and said, “We now need to protect our children, we need to protect the people in our communities, parents, grandparents, teachers.”
Several institutions of higher education have already imposed a vaccination mandate for students, faculty, and staff, including the University of Illinois system. The U. of I., which developed the Shield Illinois saliva-based test for COVID-19, is being used in 1,200 grade and elementary schools in the state.
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