More like this, please
Tuesday, Mar 16, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller
* This thing ain’t over yet, so let’s not spike the ball on the 20 yard line…
* As far as I can tell, there’s a significant overlap between those who refuse to be vaccinated and those who refuse to wear masks, so, like it or not, the mask mandate is probably gonna have to stay in place for a while…
A year after the state logged its first death from the coronavirus, Gov. J.B. Pritzker and his public health team are poised to release a retooled plan to reopen Illinois and end the majority of the COVID-19 restrictions as soon as adequate numbers of residents are fully vaccinated.
But while Illinoisans could get a better idea later this week just how soon they can expect to gather in larger crowds and resume visiting their regular restaurants and stores, they will apparently need to continue to let their eyes do the smiling.
“We’re not getting rid of masks,” said Dr. Ngozi Ezike, the head of the Illinois Department of Public Health. “We think masks have to continue to be a mainstay.”
- Bruce( no not him) - Tuesday, Mar 16, 21 @ 8:00 am:
A loooong ways to go.
“So far the longest we made is 1pm.”
- Levois J - Tuesday, Mar 16, 21 @ 8:08 am:
Well, I don’t think anyone can beat free food….
- zatoichi - Tuesday, Mar 16, 21 @ 8:14 am:
While Dr. Darren Bailey has said there are no studies showing masks work, a free sandwich at Manny’s may get more masks on faces. Blinded me with science.
- Three Dimensional Checkers - Tuesday, Mar 16, 21 @ 8:17 am:
I think it will still be hard to eradicate the disease even with vaccines given the number of COVIDiots in the world at any time. The test positivity could stay around the current rate for a while.
- DuPage Saint - Tuesday, Mar 16, 21 @ 8:19 am:
If there is readily available vaccine for all those who want it by June I think there will be a huge fall off in mask use by middle of July especially if it gets hot. My only hope is that people would honor stores an wear them in stores. But people vaccinated might just be done with it and anti vaxers are hopeless
- JS Mill - Tuesday, Mar 16, 21 @ 8:21 am:
@zatoichi- you had me at “Dr. Darren Bailey”.
That is high art right there my friend.
- Blue Dog - Tuesday, Mar 16, 21 @ 8:24 am:
In my neck of the woods, and particularly SIUC after hours, the use of masks is limited to say the least.
- Back to the Future - Tuesday, Mar 16, 21 @ 8:33 am:
Gotta go to Manny’s.
Frankly have not been at that place for years, but I used to go fairly often when I was younger with three fellows that loved the place. The food was always a treat. One passed away and two fellows that went into Illinois politics moved out of state so I guess I have to go 4 times to make up for one of our visits in the past.
No problem. At last I can do something to say “hit the road” to that stupid virus and spend some money with a business that “gets it” on the mask issue.
- Cool Papa Bell - Tuesday, Mar 16, 21 @ 8:33 am:
I don’t like the idea of sticking to a metric on vaccination percentages if that’s what’s going to happen. Even as vaccine acceptance grows there is still a significant number of people unwilling to get a shot. Those folks can’t stand in the way of the progress for the rest of us.
Masks? If you were paying attention for the past 10 months it’s been obvious that they aren’t going anywhere for quite some time.
- Pundent - Tuesday, Mar 16, 21 @ 8:40 am:
For some refusing to wear a mask or getting a vaccine has become a political statement. As Dr. Fauci commented yesterday without vaccines polio and measles would still be prevalent. Politics has overwhelmed common sense to the point that people are willing to put their lives at risk.
- ddp76 - Tuesday, Mar 16, 21 @ 8:46 am:
I’m not a big fan of masks either. They’re a PITA. But I happily wear one for the same reasons I don’t belch loudly or do other offensive things. I respect others. I don’t know what is so damn difficult about basic decency.
- striketoo - Tuesday, Mar 16, 21 @ 8:53 am:
Once vaccines are widely available for all, there will be no reason for the vaccinated to continue to wear masks or to social distance. The impact of the lack of personal responsibility on the part of anti-vaxers is on them. You can’t fix stupid.
- Metric Man - Tuesday, Mar 16, 21 @ 8:56 am:
The real world mask use effect will be realized very soon. Dr. Ezike can blind us with her mask science for ever. Real world results are waiting in the next couple of weeks as states lift their mandates. I don’t know if now is the time to start moving forward or not, but at least we have a few guinea pigs to show us. Let’s all watch and see what happens out there.
- EssentialStateEmployeeFromChatham - Tuesday, Mar 16, 21 @ 9:03 am:
I’ll be fully vaccinated by Easter.
Honestly, I’m thinking mask-wearing will last at least a few years longer. Maybe mandates for another year or two, then maybe only during peak flu seasons or so afterwards.
And I’m fine with wearing masks. Even if it’s forever. Hopefully the N95 (or even N99 types) will come down in price and be able to get sold more widespread in stores (at least at Walgreen’s, CVS, Ace Hardware).
I am fine with not going to large-scale events (concerts, college and pro ballgames, State Fair) ever again after this pandemic.
- Candy Dogood - Tuesday, Mar 16, 21 @ 9:18 am:
“If everyone.”
Thanks for ruining it for everyone, Rep Bailey.
- Occasional Quipper - Tuesday, Mar 16, 21 @ 9:22 am:
I’m fine with continuing to wear masks in certain situations, even after the all clear is given. I haven’t caught a regular cold or flu since the pandemic started, and I think part of the credit goes to mask-wearing. I don’t know how well they actually filter incoming air but you have to agree that they DO help block sneeze particles, which according to an MIT study can exit the mouth at 100 mph and reach up to 27 feet. https://micro-scientific.com/how-far-does-a-sneeze-travel/
- Cool Papa Bell - Tuesday, Mar 16, 21 @ 9:23 am:
@Metric
Masks work. Ask the US Navy.
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2776536?utm_source=twitter&utm_campaign=content-shareicons&utm_content=article_engagement&utm_medium=social&utm_term=031521#.YE_tcICpZ7U.twitter
- Joe Bidenopolous - Tuesday, Mar 16, 21 @ 9:23 am:
Manny’s tweeted this yesterday morning but then yesterday afternoon they tweeted that they had to correct/inform 7 people to fix or wear their mask, so the clock starts again today.
- ChrisB - Tuesday, Mar 16, 21 @ 9:25 am:
==As far as I can tell, there’s a significant overlap between those who refuse to be vaccinated and those who refuse to wear masks,==
As my mom used to tell me a lot, “There’s no sympathy for the stupid.”
- Jocko - Tuesday, Mar 16, 21 @ 9:33 am:
==I don’t know what is so damn difficult about basic decency.==
I live in DuPage and, if I had a nickel for every person who wears a mask under their nose (or leaves their shopping cart despite the corral being 20 feet away), I could retire tomorrow.
- dan l - Tuesday, Mar 16, 21 @ 9:40 am:
—–
As far as I can tell, there’s a significant overlap between those who refuse to be vaccinated and those who refuse to wear masks, so, like it or not, the mask mandate is probably gonna have to stay in place for a while…
—–
Which is fine. I think even after they life the mandate, I might just continue to wear a mask when I travel to communities that seem to be more anti-mask/vax/science. At the very least it will upset them a great deal if not protect me from the smaller regional covid outbreaks that will result from the existence of these insular communities.
- OneMan - Tuesday, Mar 16, 21 @ 9:53 am:
Figure that whenever I start going back into the office again on Metra it’s going to be with a mask for at least 6 months.
Might just become a ‘winter thing’ going forward and I am ok with that.
- thisjustinagain - Tuesday, Mar 16, 21 @ 9:54 am:
There is every reason to keep wearing masks indefinitely in public spaces and even private homes (for contractors and visitors, who have no idea if residents have been vaccinated). The rate of flu this year was so much lower the scientists report a lack of data to base next year’s flu vaccine blend on. Even if you have a cold, put a mask on and wash or sanitize your hands. For those who haven’t notice yet, germs and viruses spread in the air and on surfaces. Whooda Thunk It? The Japanese wear masks when sick and in public to reduce transmission.
- Steve Rogers - Tuesday, Mar 16, 21 @ 10:02 am:
I’m starting to see more people not wearing masks at all. I’ll be in the grocery store and going down an aisle, and someone at the other end is maskless. I just turn around and go down the next aisle. Can’t combat stupid.
- EssentialStateEmployeeFromChatham - Tuesday, Mar 16, 21 @ 10:11 am:
=Might just become a ‘winter thing’ going forward and I am ok with that.=
Along those lines, I would think scientists will experiment with this soon, but I wonder if COVID vaccine chemicals will in later years be incorporated in the annual Flu Shots? Perhaps even meaning 2 combined Flu/COVID shots per year, or even a stronger one-time shot. For state employees, flu shots were traditionall given in the fall.
- Martin - Tuesday, Mar 16, 21 @ 10:18 am:
I will be getting my first shot (Moderna) tomorrow, My wife just her second (Pfizer) shot. Our best friends will be getting their second (Moderna) shot tomorrow. Once I am at full efficacy (around April 15), we will do things together without masks. Other than that, I will be using masks for the rest of my life. Even when this pandemic is over. Will help avoid winter colds as well as the next bug.
- Stu - Tuesday, Mar 16, 21 @ 10:22 am:
The Trib has the story about Manny’s and included a tweet from a donut shop in Florida that was doing the same…but they hadn’t made it past 2:30pm yet without having to reset the clock.
- lake county democrat - Tuesday, Mar 16, 21 @ 11:09 am:
@striketwo - The vaccines, as great an achievement as they are, are at-best 94% effective, and for the must vulnerable (elderly) they’re less (studies differ by how much). So until heard immunity is achieved, the anti-vaxers/anti-maskers are still putting people other than themselves at risk.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Mar 16, 21 @ 11:16 am:
===there will be no reason for the vaccinated to continue to wear masks or to social distance===
Vaxed people can still get the virus. Whether they can transmit it is currently unknown. Until then, wear your mask.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Mar 16, 21 @ 11:27 am:
===The impact of the lack of personal responsibility on the part of anti-vaxers is on them.===
As they possibly keep the transmitting around for all of us?
We are a society, no one is in a bubble.
- Blue Dog - Tuesday, Mar 16, 21 @ 11:41 am:
Just saying….I don’t think these thousands of SIUC massless students are either in the Eastern bloc or anti-Vaxers. What’s it like in Chicago or Champaign?
- EssentialStateEmployeeFromChatham - Tuesday, Mar 16, 21 @ 11:42 am:
=The Trib has the story about Manny’s and included a tweet from a donut shop in Florida that was doing the same…=
I wonder if this offer is also valid for Manny’s Pizza and Tacos in Savanna? (As well as their second location in Freeport). That restaurant is a northwestern Illinois institution.
- ChicagoBars - Tuesday, Mar 16, 21 @ 11:57 am:
I’d point out mask use in Asia has been very widespread in the winter months for years. A fact many, many news outlets covered a full year ago.
But pointing out they’ve been helpful in winters past in Asia with cold and flu, ever since 2002-2003 SARS outbreaks, isn’t going to move the needle at all on anyone still fighting them here. Sigh.
https://time.com/5799964/coronavirus-face-mask-asia-us/
Also US Surgeon General Jerome Adams and every other doctor who told people to quit buying masks up last March without nuance should still be doing a mea culpa American tour.
- Martin - Tuesday, Mar 16, 21 @ 12:04 pm:
Need to correct my earlier post. I will get my second Moderna shot around April 15 - four weeks after the first. And max efficacy is three weeks after that - around May 6.
- S. Zissou - Tuesday, Mar 16, 21 @ 4:50 pm:
Another restaurant that I have missed over this past year…