Governor Pritzker announces new vaccine and mask mandates

Posted on August 26, 2021
Gov. JB Pritzker held a press briefing Thursday morning in Chicago. (WJBC file photo)

 

By WJBC Staff

CHICAGO –  Gov. JB Pritzker and State Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike on Thursday announced new vaccination requirements and reimplemented a statewide indoor mask mandate for all Illinois residents, regardless of vaccination status.

All healthcare workers, including nursing home employees, all pre-k-12 teachers and staff, as well as higher education personnel and students will now be required to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

Employees in all of these settings and higher education students who are unable or unwilling to receive the vaccine will be required to get tested for COVID-19 at least once per week, and IDPH and the Illinois State Board of Education may require increased testing in certain situations, according to a news release Thursday.

The indoor mask mandate goes into effect on Monday, Aug. 30. According to the news release, while face coverings are not required outdoors, masks are strongly encouraged in crowded outdoor settings like festivals and concerts as well as for activities that require close contact with people who are not vaccinated.

“Unlike the wave of COVID-19 we saw earlier this Spring, we’re now seeing our hospital resources stretched thin with some areas of Illinois reduced to only a handful of available ICU beds,” said Dr. Ezike. “The vast majority of hospitalizations, as well as cases and deaths, are among those who are unvaccinated.  This has become a pandemic of the unvaccinated. We have safe, proven, and effective tools to turn the tide and end this pandemic.  But until more people are vaccinated, masks are the order of the day and will help us slow the spread of the virus.”

WJBC News can be reached at [email protected]

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