BREAKING: Covid-19 Spread Rapidly Accelerating Across Illinois, Could New Shutdowns Be Coming?
This graphic from Covid-19 Illinois, Illinois updates involving Covid-19 in an unbiased manner, shows the spiking percentage of cases in the state, particularly downstate, where zones are nearing the 12 percent trigger for potential partial shutdowns.
According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, over the previous three days, cases are up 7,858 (up 2,256 compared to last weekend).
During an online press conference, Pritzker announced the following mitigations will take place:
- Masks will be required in all preschool through grade 12 schools, daycares, and indoor sports. There will be no mask requirement for outdoor sports, due to evidence showing infection rates for outdoor sports are low. Pritzker also said free masks and tests would be provided statewide to all schools as needed.
- Illinois will require all state employees at congregate facilities to be vaccinated. All employees at veterans homes, senior facilities, long-term care facilities, etc. will be required to be vaccinated.
- There will be a universal mask mandate in all long-term care facilities, whether private or public, whether or not the person is vaccinated or not. “While the Delta variant rages on, I want to leave no room for non-compliance,” Pritzker said.
Covid cases have leapt in Illinois over 10 times higher than they were in July, Pritzker said, particularly downstate, where numbers have run rampant and larger numbers of residents are unvaccinated.
Ninety-six (96) percent of those hospitalized in the state are unvaccinated individuals, Pritzker said.
“The largest group of those who are hit the hardest are those unvaccinated,” Pritzker said. “People are dying who don’t have to die. It’s heartbreaking and it has to end. We have to take action now, and that’s what we’re doing.”
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