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Illinois issues mask mandate, orders vaccines for schools

Published 08/26/2021, 07:54 AM
Updated 08/26/2021, 07:11 PM
© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: People wearing protective face masks walk, as the global outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues, along the shores of Lake Michigan in Chicago, Illinois, U.S., December 6, 2020. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: People wearing protective face masks walk, as the global outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues, along the shores of Lake Michigan in Chicago, Illinois, U.S., December 6, 2020. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

By Rich McKay

(Reuters) -Illinois will require all eligible students and school employees to be vaccinated and re-instituted an indoor mask mandate under an order announced by Governor J.B. Pritzker on Thursday.

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.

On Monday, the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine was given full approval for use by the federal government. But the Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) authorization is for people ages 16 an older, not younger children.

© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: People wearing protective face masks walk, as the global outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues, along the shores of Lake Michigan in Chicago, Illinois, U.S., December 6, 2020. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

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.

Latest comments

Democrats will make slaves of you
your a fool if you believe today's world is about democrats vs Republicans. its all a smoke screen while the 1% rakes in all the wealth. GG being a sheep and playing into the illusion
All the mothers in Illinois should pull their kids out of school, if they love their children.
Pfizer will cover half of all high school students
Pfizer will cover half of all high school students
Yeah, we are seeing a spike in breakthrough cases, so you should get vaccinated to slow the breakthrough cases. The unvaccinated are causing the problem. <face palm>
It is like you can read, but you can only read half of the information.
No, dear Anthony. The Faucis of the world are creating the problem. The problem to which they offer a solution that you would not accept without the problem created by them being there for you to cope with.
masks and bs vaccines do not work...but maybe it's unclear still
Democrat led States believe in mandates because they do not believe in freedom. Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker is obese last of his problems is Covid. Highest murder rate in the country but lets focus on masking children with lowest mortality rate.
Snowflakes melting....I love that sound.
actually Illinois is not even top 10 highest *******rates in the country. shows how much you know...
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