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COVID-19 roundup: Kids; Schools; IDES

Posted in:

* Tribune

This month, an average of more than 30 Illinois children a day have been admitted to hospitals with confirmed or suspected COVID-19, with the rolling seven-day average reaching 40 admissions last Wednesday. A year ago at this time, average daily admissions were around 20 in early August before peaking at 35. […]

Still, the increase in childhood hospitalizations in Illinois is far less severe than in states where some pediatric wards are filling up fast. In Florida, for example, admissions are running roughly triple what they were last August, at one point approaching 100 confirmed or suspected childhood cases a day, on average.

Florida’s population is 70 percent larger than ours, so we’ve got a little ways to go before getting that bad. And it could, especially with this attitude


Last week we delivered nearly 45,000 petitions to Pritzker’s office to demand he rescinds his unilateral mask mandate on our schools. I'm delivering YOUR voice.

Posted by Darren Bailey for Governor on Tuesday, August 24, 2021

* Southern Illinois

Hardin County CUSD #1 has closed for the remainder of the week.

The school announced that over 25% of the school called in absent Tuesday.

Superintendant Andy Edmondson did not disclose what prompted the closure, but said “we need to focus on getting our students healthy.”

“I want to apologize for the short notice and the inconvenience this will bring, but the health of our students is our top priority,” Edmondson added.

* From the governor’s office last night…

* Daily Herald

Of three suburban private schools that had their recognition status pulled by the Illinois State Board of Education last week after officials said they flouted a COVID-19 mask mandate, just one has been reinstated.

Bethany Lutheran School in Naperville and Lutheran School of St. Luke in Itasca remained on ISBE’s list of sanctioned schools as of Tuesday, the agency reported.

* CBS 2

COVID-19 isn’t the only problem schools are facing as students head back to schools. There’s also a teacher shortage.

The superintendent of LaSalle-Peru High School said the pandemic has accelerated a teacher shortage years in the making.

Nearly a third of educators say the pandemic has led them to plan on leaving teaching earlier than expected.

* AP

Most epidemiologists say they still believe that in-person school can be conducted safely, and that it’s important considering the academic, social and emotional damage to students since the pandemic slammed into American schools in March 2020.

In some cases, experts say, the reversals reflect a careless approach among districts that acted as if the pandemic were basically over.

“People should realize it’s not over. It’s a real problem, a real public health issue,” said Dr. Tina Tan, a Northwestern University medical professor who chairs the American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Infectious Diseases. “You have to do everything to prevent the spread of COVID in the school.”

Tan and others say that means not just masks in schools but a push for vaccination, social distancing, ventilation and other precautions, providing multiple layers of protection.

* IDES press release…

The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) announced today that it will begin the phased restoration of in-person workforce and limited unemployment services at American Job Centers throughout the state on an appointment-only basis starting Thursday, August 26. In-person appointments will be available at the following locations as part of the first phase of the plan:

To schedule an appointment, individuals should call via the IDES Scheduling Hotline at 217.558.0401 and request a callback. Appointments must be scheduled a minimum of 24 hours in advance of the appointment time. An appointment may be scheduled for one of the following reasons:

Appointments will be available Monday through Friday between 8:30am and 5:00pm. To ensure efficiency, each appointment will be 20 minutes in length and visitors will be afforded a 10-minute grace period. Visitors who schedule an appointment must bring a photo ID and any other documentation required for the appointment. A scheduled appointment is required for entrance into one of the offices. Individuals who arrive at an office without an appointment will be asked to schedule an appointment via the Scheduling Hotline for a later date.

Masks or face coverings are required when entering an office. If a visitor has been experiencing any symptoms or has been exposed to someone with COVID-19 within 14 days prior to their appointment, they will be required to reschedule the appointment.

In the coming weeks, IDES will continue to reopen additional offices on a phased basis and will announce the availability of phone appointments to further assist claimants.

Claimants are strongly encouraged to use the IDES website to apply and certify for benefits, enroll in direct deposit, change passwords, engage in work search, and connect with an employment services professional, among other services. Claimants can also continue to speak with an IDES expert over the phone, by requesting a callback at 800.244.5631. As a reminder, if a callback is received at an inconvenient time, claimants may reschedule the callback for a specific time with a call center agent.

* More…

* Quinnipiac: 6 In 10 Floridians Support Requiring Masks In Schools, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; 61% Say Recent Rise In COVID-19 Cases In Florida Was Preventable

* DuPage County plans large clinics for COVID-19 booster shots

* Delta Air Lines to require that employees be vaccinated or pay $200 monthly health insurance surcharge

* What if wearing masks makes us more free?

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Aug 25, 21 @ 2:01 pm

Comments

  1. I hope the number of schools on probation drops, but given what we’ve seen from our local districts so far, more schools will be added to it in the near future.

    Comment by Fixer Wednesday, Aug 25, 21 @ 2:14 pm

  2. I’m still trying to figure out exactly what they are trying to do, but the IL subgroup of Moms For America is currently trying to convince their members that JCAR has finally decided to hold ISBE responsible, for how ISBE is handling administrative rule enforcement for districts not following the governors mask mandate.

    Comment by TheInvisibleMan Wednesday, Aug 25, 21 @ 2:16 pm

  3. Darrin Bailey sure do love big stacks of paper.
    He longs to be a bureaucrat.

    Comment by Asteroid of Caution Wednesday, Aug 25, 21 @ 2:26 pm

  4. TheInvisibleMan, I didn’t see anything from the minutes that would suggest that was discussed, but given the make up of groups like that, I can only guess where that idea came from.

    Comment by Fixer Wednesday, Aug 25, 21 @ 2:27 pm

  5. AC/DC, or their legal team, might want to have a word with the Bailey Circus.

    Comment by Ryan Wednesday, Aug 25, 21 @ 2:38 pm

  6. Back in Black, the traditional funeral color.

    Comment by Ron Burgundy Wednesday, Aug 25, 21 @ 2:54 pm

  7. So Bailey walks into the Governor’s office with no mask. Another stunt.

    Does Bailey have an advisory team or does he dream up this nonsense on his own? Take a look around, Darren. You won’t be invited back.

    Comment by Rudy’s teeth Wednesday, Aug 25, 21 @ 3:36 pm

  8. ===Nearly a third of educators say the pandemic has led them to plan on leaving teaching earlier than expected.===
    I can’t imagine that teachers would want to hang in a profession where their student’s parents don’t really care to try to keep them alive.

    Comment by Bruce( no not him) Wednesday, Aug 25, 21 @ 3:59 pm

  9. = Does Bailey have an advisory team =

    Yeah, Tom Devore.

    Comment by JoanP Wednesday, Aug 25, 21 @ 4:04 pm

  10. ==So Bailey walks into the Governor’s office with no mask. ==

    Darren Bailey has shown throughout this pandemic that he doesn’t believe in any sort of rules.

    Comment by Demoralized Wednesday, Aug 25, 21 @ 4:05 pm

  11. Years ago, we were strongly encouraged to get a series of Hepatitis vaccines to protect us as we worked with a high-risk population. Nurses administered the vaccines at work so this was an easy process.

    It’s all about protecting one’s health. Open mindset versus closed mindset.

    Comment by Rudy’s teeth Wednesday, Aug 25, 21 @ 4:06 pm

  12. If this guy is the gubernatorial nominee for the IL GOP, they’re gonna be extinct.

    Comment by B Team Wednesday, Aug 25, 21 @ 4:09 pm

  13. Dear Darren Bailey:

    45,000 petitions? Or petitions with 45,000 signatures?

    How many of those petitions are signed by “Rosey Palmer” and her five sisters (Thumb Finger, Index Finger, Middle Finger, Ring Finger, and Pinky Finger)?

    ’cause Rosey Palmer and her five sisters aren’t who think they are…

    Comment by Lynn S. Wednesday, Aug 25, 21 @ 7:37 pm

  14. ** who you think

    Comment by Lynn S. Wednesday, Aug 25, 21 @ 7:45 pm

  15. Tomorrow, Gov. Pritzker is set to reinstate the indoor mask mandate statewide, irrespective of vaccination status. Also, he will announce that all K-12 and college teachers either get vaccinated for COVID or be subjected to weekly COVID testing.

    https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/coronavirus/pritzker-to-announce-indoor-mask-mandate-new-covid-vaccine-rules-for-illinois-teachers/2598753/

    Comment by Justin Wednesday, Aug 25, 21 @ 10:13 pm

  16. ==Tomorrow, Gov. Pritzker is set to reinstate the indoor mask mandate statewide, irrespective of vaccination status. Also, he will announce that all K-12 and college teachers either get vaccinated for COVID or be subjected to weekly COVID testing.==

    Hopefully he will also announce “vaccinations for all state employees or automatic termination” later today too.

    Comment by EssentialStateEmployeeFromChatham Thursday, Aug 26, 21 @ 7:51 am

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Previous Post: *** UPDATED x1 *** AFSCME opposes state employee vax mandate, points to union members “who remain fearful of the COVID vaccine”
Next Post: Pritzker to Jacobson: “You come in here with a political agenda and you spread misinformation”


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