Since we dont know what new variants may come our way, when and where theyll show up, how our existing natural and/or vaccine-induced immunity may or may not protect us we could be playing with fire since we are flying blind with respect to being able to quickly understand the on-the-ground situation., Pritzkers decision to leave the vaccination requirement in place for employees in K-12 schools was praised by the leaders of the states largest school district and its two largest teachers unions. At the state board meeting, some teachers pushed back against the proposed rule that would solidify Pritzker's mandate. J.B. Pritzker will lift his indoor mask mandate for most public places on Feb. 28 if the state's largest coronavirus surge continues to subside, a move that comes as Democratic . This updated guidance supersedes all prior COVID-19 school . No testing will be required in areas of low transmission. Click Here for Masking Guidance Click Here for Vaccination Requirements Guidance What should you do if you or someone you have been in close contact with tests positive for coronavirus? In all, 52,372,521 tests have been reported in Illinois. Illinois teachers currently face mandated COVID-19 testing if unvaccinated. I think all of us are very hopeful that we might be able to never put masks back on, Pritzker said at a news conference Feb. 9. Two doses of varicella for students entering all grades. I would like very much for it to be removed as soon as humanly possible, but the truth is that we need to follow the advice of doctors, epidemiologists, who understand this well, Pritzker said. CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky urged officials this week to keep masking requirements in place for schools and other public places, saying now is not the moment to stop, according to Reuters. Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced that Chicago will drop its mask mandate for most settings, as well as its proof-of-vaccination mandate at restaurants, bars and other indoor establishments, at. March 10, 2022. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is working with public health departments, health care providers, and other partners to make sure people can easily get As of Wednesday, one metric the citys test positivity is in the lower category. It means at all times, we have to keep the door manned, he said. Previously, the United Center had required proof of vaccination (and did not accept a negative test) for entry, and required all event-goers to wear masks. As it is, were having difficulty finding people to help us.. story Private and charter schools are also choosing to keep masks mandatory. "Hospitalizations are way down, cases are way down, and we hope that we can sustain that for the spring and summer and, frankly, forever more," said Gov. The move affects restaurants, bars, gyms and stores. Download Minimum Immunization Requirements for Children Enrolling or Entering a Child Care Facility or School in Illinois, 2022-2023, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System, Talking to Parents About Immunizations Resource Toolkit, Child and Adolescent Immuninzation Schedule, Grant Accountability and Transparency (GATA), Three or more doses of DTP/DTaP or Td; with the last dose qualifying as a booster if received on or after the 4th birthday. Some parent groups are urging CPS to keep the masks on until more CPS students are vaccinated and to protect kids with health risks. Beginning in early January, all patrons at restaurants, gyms or entertainment venues where food is served will be required to show a proof of COVID vaccination, or of a negative COVID test withinseven days of their entry into the building. Beginning Jan. 3, Chicago will require proof of vaccination for many indoor public spaces as the city works to combat what officials are calling "the biggest COVID surge that we have seen since before vaccines were available.". Block Club Chicagos coronavirus coverage is free for all readers. With the city of Chicago averaging more than 1,700 new cases of coronavirus a day, health officials are imposing new proof-of-vaccination requirements, and business owners are preparing for the rules to take effect in the new year. But the CDC said it is not a side effect to worry about. Greg Bishop reports on Illinois government and other issues for The Center Square. This is a progressive requirement starting in 2017-2018. Masks will also still be required in hospitals, public transit, prisons, jails, and in Chicago Public Schools. Some venues said they will keep their requirements for now. "I think especially when we look at settings that are higher vaccinated, those are settings where I very much hope as time moves on we'll be able to lift," she said. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy "I would still recommend that if you are in indoor spaces, especially those that are crowded, that you put on a mask," said Dr. Rachel Rubin, Cook County Department of Health. t 312.346.5700 f 312.896.2500, Springfield Office | Illinois Policy He also hinted his superseding state mask mandate could return if case rates rebound, requiring Cook County residents to mask up again even if the local order is revoked. The Chicago Department of Public Health is tracking four primary community transmission and risk metrics: COVID-19 cases diagnosed per day, test positivity, hospital beds occupied by COVID-19 patients and ICU beds occupied by COVID-19 patients. Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System, Talking to Parents About Immunizations Resource Toolkit, Fall 2022 School Immunization Requirements, Immunization for Infants and Children (Spanish), Community Options for Safe Needle Disposal, Guide to Contraindications to Vaccination, Measles Coverage and Protection Levels for School Age Children, Certificate of Child Health Examination (En Espaol), Public Act 099-0249 - Religious Exemption Amendment to School Code, Mercury-Free Vaccine Act Exemption Declaration (2022), VFC Program Manual for Illinois VFC Providers, Top 10 Reasons to Vaccinate Your Child (Spanish), Grant Accountability and Transparency (GATA). Local school authorities shall monitor immunization schedules to assure their completion. Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady on Tuesday gave a breakdown on which COVID-19 variant is currently leading the surge in the Midwest. A judge ordered Steven Montano, 18, to be held without bail at a Friday hearing as he faces a murder charge in the slaying of officer Andrs Mauricio Vsquez Lasso. The governor cautioned Illinoisans keep masks handy to comply with these lingering mandates and others set forth by local jurisdictions and businesses. In Illinois, about 7.9 million people or 62.84 percent of the states 12.7 million people are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, according to state data. The citys mandate was also put into effect in August as the city was seeing an average of more than 400 new confirmed cases per day. Federal health officials this week unveiled a strategy for attempting to manage the highly transmissible omicron subvariants that now make up the majority of cases nationally and doctors have urged a renewed sense of vigilance. CHICAGO (WLS) -- The state of Illinois along with Chicago officially lifted their indoor mask mandates, with the city also ending its proof of vaccination requirement. The Illinois State Capitol in Springfield, Illinois. The moves go against recommendations from the leader of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. If these trends continue, and we expect on Monday, Feb. 28, we will lift the indoor mask requirement for the state of Illinois.. and Terms of Service apply. Covid-19 vaccines will be part of recommended immunization schedules in 2023 for both children and adults, after a unanimous vote by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's. Executive Order 2022-11 (HTML) English Arabic ". While Chicago lifted its mask mandate Monday, is the proof of COVID-19 vaccination requirement removed now, as well? Chicago Public Schools families should prepare for more remote learning in January as COVID-19 cases surge this winter, but the entire district is unlikely to shut down, schools chief Pedro Martinez said Tuesday. Public transportation, including buses, trains and airplanes. "I can't complain.". Within the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendations, vaccine doses given up to four days before minimum interval or age can be counted as valid. The president of Harper College in Palatine said she supported the governors new rules. The Chicago-based chain, which also has locations in Milwaukee, Minneapolis and Dallas, opened the Wicker Park location in 2017. Email Newsroom@BlockClubChi.org. How long are you contagious, what are the quarantine guidelines and when can you see people again? Medical assistant Juanita Hall administers a booster injection to Dave Jordan at Harlan High School in Chicago on May 11, 2022. doctors have urged a renewed sense of vigilance, Colleges, students respond to end of Gov. Everyone knows COVID will still be around when the new school year starts, but were not sure how prevalent these new variants are because people are not testing as much, and many people have moved on, Burkey said. Between 1st and 3rd must be at least 16 weeks. The previous record for hospitalizations was set in November 2020, when . For child entry to licensed daycare facility or school, see Child Health Examination Form. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Our approach has saved lives and kept our economy open and growing.. Block Club Chicago is a nonprofit news organization dedicated to delivering reliable, nonpartisan and essential coverage of Chicagos diverse neighborhoods. Days before winning the GOP nomination to challenge Democratic Attorney General Kwame Raoul in November, DeVore last month filed a lawsuit in downstate Madison County challenging the vaccination requirement for higher education on behalf of 10 students and employees at several institutions, including City Colleges of Chicago and the University of Illinois. The mandate has remained in effect even as other states pulled back their restrictions and Illinois became one of the few states left in the nation to still mandate masks in public. The rules apply to facilities certified by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its masking guidance Fridayto show 70% of the nation's counties at low or medium risk for COVID. McNeill also echoed the concerns of some business owners who worry that customers will take out their frustration on the new rules on employees who are trying to do their jobs. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot won a round in her fight to make Chicago Police Department workers get their COVID-19 vaccinations. It was at 7 percent Tuesday. Students entering 6th thru 12th grade, three doses of hepatitis B vaccine administered at appropriate intervals. Apple's new iOS 15.1 operating system allows users to add "verifiable" COVID vaccination information in the Wallet app, making it easier to provide proof of vaccination as opposed to carrying a physical card. As of Tuesday, every state or territory except for Guam, Louisiana, South Carolina, and the Virgin Islands are on the Travel Advisory. Two metrics hospital and ICU beds occupied by COVID-19 patients are in the next-highest category, while the citys average number of cases diagnosed per day is still in the high category. Mayor Lori Lightfoots new mandate will require Chicagoans ages 5 and older to prove they received a COVID-19 vaccination and to show a photo ID before entering restaurants, bars and gyms starting Jan. 3. Despite the CDC recommendations, local governments, including those in areas of low risk, like most of northern Illinois, have the ability to set their own rules. 802 South 2nd Street | Springfield, IL 62704 When in municipalities, like cities or counties, that have mask mandates. The United Center is also keeping a requirement to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test. For the 2022-2023 school year, the four-dose requirement applies to grades K-5. "To come out today and say the state policy has changed so Noble's policy has changed is inconsistent in what we have done over the last couple years," said president Mike Madden.