* New CDC guidance for those who are fully vaccinated…
• You can resume activities that you did prior to the pandemic.
• You can resume activities without wearing a mask or staying 6 feet apart, except where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance.
• If you travel in the United States, you do not need to get tested before or after travel or self-quarantine after travel.
• You need to pay close attention to the situation at your international destination before traveling outside the United States.
o You do NOT need to get tested before leaving the United States unless your destination requires it.
o You still need to show a negative test result or documentation of recovery from COVID-19 before boarding an international flight to the United States.
o You should still get tested 3-5 days after international travel.
o You do NOT need to self-quarantine after arriving in the United States.
• If you’ve been around someone who has COVID-19, you do not need to stay away from others or get tested unless you have symptoms.
o However, if you live or work in a correctional or detention facility or a homeless shelter and are around someone who has COVID-19, you should still get tested, even if you don’t have symptoms.
[…] • You will still need to follow guidance at your workplace and local businesses.
• If you travel, you should still take steps to protect yourself and others. You will still be required to wear a mask on planes, buses, trains, and other forms of public transportation traveling into, within, or out of the United States, and in U.S. transportation hubs such as airports and stations. Fully vaccinated international travelers arriving in the United States are still required to get tested within 3 days of their flight (or show documentation of recovery from COVID-19 in the past 3 months) and should still get tested 3-5 days after their trip.
• You should still watch out for symptoms of COVID-19, especially if you’ve been around someone who is sick. If you have symptoms of COVID-19, you should get tested and stay home and away from others.
• People who have a condition or are taking medications that weaken the immune system, should talk to their healthcare provider to discuss their activities. They may need to keep taking all precautions to prevent COVID-19.
“Fully vaccinated” is defined as two weeks after the second dose in a 2-dose series, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or two weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine.
* From the governor’s office…
The Governor believes firmly in following the science and intends to revise his executive orders in line with the upcoming CDC guidelines lifting additional mitigations for vaccinated people. The scientists’ message is clear: if you are vaccinated, you can safely do much more.
* Meanwhile, from NBC 5…
The Cubs and White Sox will both increase capacity limits at Wrigley and Guaranteed Rate fields to 60% later this month as Chicago continues to further lift COVID restrictions, the teams announced Thursday. […]
The White Sox will designate Sections 108-109 as vaccinated-only without physical distancing for four games this weekend, starting with Game 1 of the doubleheader against Kansas City on May 14. Fans who purchase these tickets must show proof of vaccination and a photo ID upon entering the ballpark, the team said.
The Sox also announced that beginning May 24, the team will offer two vaccination sites for fans at Guaranteed Rate Field, offering those who get vaccinated before the game a $25 gift card for use inside the ballpark.
At Wrigley, the vaccinated section will be the upper section of the center field Budweiser Bleachers, sold at full capacity and not physically distanced, only available for the Cubs’ four-game series against the Washington Nationals from May 17 to May 20. Tickets will be $20 plus taxes and fees, and all who purchase tickets must show proof of vaccination and a photo ID, the team said.
- Shibboleth - Thursday, May 13, 21 @ 1:54 pm:
I wonder if the Capitol will lift mask requirements after the governor revises his orders, or if they will prefer to maintain caution.
- lake county democrat - Thursday, May 13, 21 @ 1:56 pm:
Wow - surprised at the unqualified removal of all restrictions. I’d have thought they’d have kept something for indoor dining/bars, gyms, etc. I’ll be honest, it will be a little difficult getting over my mental barriers for crowded indoor places (and of course there are still some local and private restrictions, but you’d expect those to go by the wayside soon), but hard not to look at this and be impressed how far we’ve come, despite everything.
- Shibboleth - Thursday, May 13, 21 @ 2:00 pm:
=So… the unvaccinated are not a threat to the vaccinated after all?=
This is the common misconception that the masks are meant to protect the wearer. The masks prevent the wearer from spreading the virus much more than the inverse.
This update instead recognizes that the vaccinated are no longer a significant risk to the unvaccinated. Not the opposite.
- SWIL_Voter - Thursday, May 13, 21 @ 2:00 pm:
== So… the unvaccinated are not a threat to the vaccinated after all? ==
How are people still asking this question? Mind boggling. Yes the unvaccinated are a threat to the vaccinated in that they allow the virus to potentially mutate beyond the protection provided by the vaccine. That’s how vaccines work- only if enough people get them.
- Unconventional wisdom - Thursday, May 13, 21 @ 2:01 pm:
Question? Do you still have to wear a mask under state law in a local business if you are fully vaccinated?
=
• You can resume activities without wearing a mask or staying 6 feet apart, except where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance.=
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, May 13, 21 @ 2:03 pm:
=== So… the unvaccinated are not a threat to the vaccinated after all?===
Your lack of comprehension on this is astounding.
You never answered if you were vaccinated or not.
Thanks.
- Pot calling kettle - Thursday, May 13, 21 @ 2:04 pm:
==the unvaccinated are not a threat to the vaccinated after all?==
They are a threat to everyone. 1) directly to the folks who cannot get vaccinated and 2) indirectly to the vaccinated because they provide a refuge for the virus and petri dish for the evolution of new strains.
If you can get vaccinated, you should. It’s your civic duty.
- Annonin' - Thursday, May 13, 21 @ 2:16 pm:
Some of the questions are better than Durkie sloshing around on the floor askin’ remap stuff.
Is he still planning the bonfire tonight to sizzle a Liz Cheney doll?
- Dysfunction Junction - Thursday, May 13, 21 @ 2:17 pm:
==If you can get vaccinated, you should. It’s your civic duty. ==
Sorry, Kettle, I don’t think this line of thinking works on that target audience. Tried this logic my sister this January. Such folks appear not to be susceptible to altruism or civic-mindedness.
- DuPage Moderate - Thursday, May 13, 21 @ 2:18 pm:
The fact that people are not jumping at this opportunity to get vaxx’d if eligible and able, is absolutely mind-boggling.
Those who refuse to get it “just because” and get sick, should be forced to ride out the virus (good or bad), alone, at home.
- AC - Thursday, May 13, 21 @ 2:21 pm:
While the reality is far more nuanced, I think the CDC guidance here makes sense. Everything is a calculated risk, as underselling the benefits of vaccines wasn’t helpful with a lot of people. I’ve heard far too many people say that they don’t see the point of getting vaccinated if they still have to wear a mask everywhere. I’m also glad that the governor will update his executive orders to be consistent with the CDC guidance, because I really do think it will help with the vaccination effort that will get us back to normal.
Personally, although I am fully vaccinated, I will be wearing a high quality mask when I am indoors with other people in public places, required or not, until we consistently statewide new daily case numbers under 1000. With the continued improvements we see, I don’t think it will be that long until we get to that point. While it’s true that the mask mandates were meant to protect others, good quality masks provide the wearer with a great deal of protection as well. If they didn’t also protect the wearer, we wouldn’t see them frequently used in medical and industrial settings.
- Slo Mo Joe - Thursday, May 13, 21 @ 2:25 pm:
* Such folks appear not to be susceptible to altruism or civic-mindedness.*
Neither do you apparently, both of those attributes imply voluntary action without public shaming or withholding services. Not a day goes by without a call for retribution on this page.
- Donnie Elgin - Thursday, May 13, 21 @ 2:32 pm:
This is great news, it will be interesting to see how this CDC guideline intersects with laws, rules, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance that calls for masking.
- Shibboleth - Thursday, May 13, 21 @ 2:41 pm:
=both of those attributes imply voluntary action without public shaming or withholding services. Not a day goes by without a call for retribution on this page.=
Hundreds of thousands of Americans are dead because people didn’t take the pandemic seriously. I will not be upset with people being angry at those who still resist efforts to save more people.
- @misterjayem - Thursday, May 13, 21 @ 2:41 pm:
“[altruism or civic-mindedness] imply voluntary action without public shaming or withholding services. Not a day goes by without a call for retribution on this page.”
Clearly the pandemic’s most heartbreaking story.
– MrJM
- Dysfunction Junction - Thursday, May 13, 21 @ 3:18 pm:
==Neither do you apparently==
Not sure what you’re talking about, SloMo, but you do you.
I can’t see where Pot Calling Kettle called for public shaming or withholding services, nor where I did.
==Not a day goes by without a call for retribution on this page.==
Yet here you are, returning to these pages day after day, seeing retribution around every corner. Why?
- Betty - Thursday, May 13, 21 @ 3:46 pm:
How many will not be vaccinated. And still ditch the mask
How would anyone know
- Sal - Thursday, May 13, 21 @ 3:50 pm:
It will be a while before I leave my mask at home. I’m fully vaccinated and still skeptical, and will remain that way until there are no longer any reported deaths or no new cases. I’d rather be safe than sorry.
- Mason born - Thursday, May 13, 21 @ 3:55 pm:
This is good news. I’m sure they’ll be idiots who lie to say they’ve been vaccinated but haven’t but to me at least it’s a clear sign that we’re moving past this as well as a clear sign that if you’re on the fence concerning the vaccine, it is the only off ramp out of this mess.
- Bob Meter - Thursday, May 13, 21 @ 4:24 pm:
The CDC just took the wind out of Pritzker’s sails.
- Earnest - Thursday, May 13, 21 @ 4:33 pm:
>The CDC just took the wind out of Pritzker’s sails.
Precisely. He’s gone from following CDC guidance to, un, still following CDC guidance. /s
- Cubs in '16 - Thursday, May 13, 21 @ 4:33 pm:
===The CDC just took the wind out of Pritzker’s sails.===
Using your analogy, Pritzker has been using the CDC’s sails all along. Your comment makes no sense unless you’re one of the conspiracy theorists who believes the governor has been issuing the mandates for funsies.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, May 13, 21 @ 4:45 pm:
===The CDC just took the wind out of Pritzker’s sails.===
LOL.
I mean, it’s pathetic when you think a governor who’s been following the CDC and moving towards opening the state… is being… held back… by the CDC here.
- MyTwoCents - Thursday, May 13, 21 @ 5:00 pm:
Considering only 34% of Illinoisans are fully vaccinated it will be interesting to see how this plays out with individual businesses and verifying whether somebody is vaccinated or not. It’s easy enough to do with employees, but customers are a whole other issue. Hopefully this won’t lead to another spike in cases.
- Your Mom - Thursday, May 13, 21 @ 6:49 pm:
Simple solution just make the unvaxed wear a badge like a gold star or something. Or just have them arrested like some of the talking heads have suggested. Curse you anti-vaxers.
- Tallone - Thursday, May 13, 21 @ 8:37 pm:
The truth is there are cliques of unvaccinated. People. Hang with their own kind. They will get their own version of Scott Atlas herd immunity by infection recipe for public health. The alternative is the political drama they generate.We will have to deal with the side effects of that,and I’m thinking the CDC figured all of this on social calculus.
- Nunya - Friday, May 14, 21 @ 10:07 am:
*Simple solution just make the unvaxed wear a badge like a gold star or something*
I really can’t tell if this is a joke or not. The lack of historical understanding on this comment is mind boggling. Also, anyone who has taken a vaccine and refuses to return to normal life is by definition an anti-vaxxer. Sorry to burst your “bubble”.
- PublicServant - Friday, May 14, 21 @ 12:19 pm:
Increasingly, the daily Covid case and death count will consist of those who have refused to get the vaccine. As has been said above, they are not only a danger to themselves, but to those who are vaccinated because of the risk of the virus throwing a vaccine-evading mutant.
Public shaming, and requiring proof of vaccination are the least the public can do to protect ourselves.