* The governor held a bill-signing event today, but the questions afterward were mostly about the state’s mask mandate. Here are some excerpts of his answers…
We’re working on making changes to our mask mandate in the state to meet the CDC’s new masking guidance that they gave late last week. So we’ll be announcing those changes shortly, it just takes a little bit of time to work through. […]
I do think that the CDC guidelines are good ones and that we will follow them here in the state. […]
One of the reasons that the CDC issued the rules as they did was the recognition that studies have now been done showing that if you’re vaccinated, you’re protected. If you’re unvaccinated you are not protected. So I encourage people who are unvaccinated still to wear their masks, but to go get vaccinated because I think we all want to get past this, we all would like to take off our masks. But we do need those who are unvaccinated to go get a vaccine and they can do that right now, today, it is available to them. […]
That’s going to be up to private businesses and individuals if they want to carry something like that [vax ID] with them […]
We are relying on people to do the right thing, we are relying upon people to recognize that they don’t want to go infect other unvaccinated people and they don’t themselves want to get sick and so it’s important for people to protect themselves and I think there’s real motivation for people to go get that. […]
We’re not going to stop people and, you know, start checking a vaccine passport as part of some state mandate. […]
I think we’re, as fast as we can, we’re trying to make the changes. As you know, we have a disaster proclamation that needs to be altered. There is a JCAR rule that needs to be rescinded. There’s just a variety of things. It’s been a complicated 14-15-16 months of putting in place a mask mandate and making sure that people are following it, and now obviously we’re working on unwinding it in an appropriate fashion. […]
Well, I was pretty clear, we’re going to follow the CDC guidelines. So if you can read the CDC guidelines, you know what we will be doing in the state of Illinois. I said that last week, I think you were actually at one of the press conferences that I gave that answer in.
I was told this morning by the governor’s office that a new executive order will be ready soon.
* Meanwhile, here’s Natalie Pierre at the State Journal-Register…
Beginning Tuesday, Walmart and Sam’s Club will no longer require vaccinated shoppers and employees to wear masks in stores outside of municipalities that require it, the retailer announced Friday. […]
The memo — which says employees will get a $75 bonus for providing proof they are vaccinated — does not detail a method for ensuring customers without masks are fully vaccinated.
Beginning Monday, masks will also be optional at Starbucks for those who are vaccinated, according to the coffeehouse chain’s website, which notes that its updated mask policy applies to all locations, “unless local regulations require them by law.”
Meijer, Target, CVS and Walgreens are among the stores that, following the latest CDC guidelines, have stated they will continue to require all customers to wear masks for now.
…Adding… BND…
While people who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 won’t be required to wear masks in many settings, updated federal guidance recommends that masks and social distancing still be required in schools for the rest of the school year.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its guidance Saturday that clarified schools should continue to use the current COVID-19 prevention strategies, including universal masking and social distancing. Originally, the CDC announced Thursday that fully vaccinated people wouldn’t need to wear masks or practice social distancing indoors or outdoors, except under certain circumstances or when state, local, or company policy requires masks.
- Fmr Accountant - Monday, May 17, 21 @ 11:34 am:
I’m not sure this is the place to bring this up, but as someone who has already had Covid and recovered, is the Governor telling me that I need to get vaccinated? My doctor says that I shouldn’t.
- Stu - Monday, May 17, 21 @ 11:37 am:
===My doctor says that I shouldn’t.===
That is between you and your doctor, but the CDC recommends vaccination 14 days after recovery or 90 days after recovery if monoclonal antibodies were used in your treatment.
- lake county democrat - Monday, May 17, 21 @ 11:45 am:
At least the mRNA vaccines appear to be “stronger and more variable.” https://www.contagionlive.com/view/immune-response-from-mrna-covid-19-vaccines-is-more-robust-than-natural-infection
- Cool Papa Bell - Monday, May 17, 21 @ 11:47 am:
I think I’ll still be wearing a mask for a while. Even when I don’t “have” to in a store.
I have my first plane trip in more than a year at the end of the month. I hope that they are still requiring masks in the airport and the plane. I’m not ready to rip that bandaid off and I’ll be traveling with a child who will have one vaccine and another who isn’t old enough yet.
- Matt - Monday, May 17, 21 @ 11:50 am:
Rich - once again, the Chicago Mayor appears to be out of touch and behind the latest guidance/how quickly the situation. She was on MSNBC this morning questioning the CDC’s guidance. Reminded me of their disconnect on opening vaccine availability, does Chicago Dept of Public Health have smartest person in the room syndrome? Could we have a world where the state follows the CDC and the city doesn’t creating once again more confusion for businesses?
- Candy Dogood - Monday, May 17, 21 @ 12:00 pm:
===We are relying on people to do the right thing===
I’m not ready to stop worrying yet.
- WestBurbs - Monday, May 17, 21 @ 12:05 pm:
Two questions:
1. Fmr Accountant - did your Dr give reasons for saying that you shouldn’t get vaxxed? Not trying to fight but need to understand as I have a close friend who is saying he won’t get vaxxed due to prior Covid infection - although he can’t explain rationale.
2. Thoughts on the “honor” system? I think it will fail miserably - from my very small sample of unvaxxed by choice friends, all will stop wearing masks. I support a vax passport - think the honor system will lead us there?
- Dotnonymous - Monday, May 17, 21 @ 12:19 pm:
Honor systems work among the honorable…only.
- Unconventionalwisdom - Monday, May 17, 21 @ 12:23 pm:
I do not understand why so many people have not got their shots.
I am taking my mask off. If it can be proved that I am still a danger to others then I will put it back on. Otherwise I will not be held hostage to those who do not.
- Motambe - Monday, May 17, 21 @ 12:28 pm:
My bride cuts to the chase….”nobody pays attention anymore to the governor and his executive orders.”
- Jibba - Monday, May 17, 21 @ 12:28 pm:
Since masks have/will become mostly optional for the vaccinated, the unvaccinated will surely drop their masks, as they have been itching to do anyway. There is no way to prevent it from happening. We’ll just have to accept the results. Vaccinate yourself, if you can.
- Sickntired - Monday, May 17, 21 @ 12:28 pm:
So when will state workers go back to work? Any plans being made? I’d like my FOID card please.
- Keyrock - Monday, May 17, 21 @ 12:29 pm:
Matt - There are two sides to this question. Many top epidemiologists and public health experts have been saying the CDC acted too soon. They’ve suggested the indoor mask guidance should have been kept in place until early July. See the tweets and writing of Joseph Allen, Leana Wen, and Ashish Jha, for example.
By failing to out in place a recognized system for checking vaccination status, the federal and state governments have made the transition into the new normal more difficult for businesses and individuals.
- Jocko - Monday, May 17, 21 @ 12:35 pm:
==We are relying on people to do the right thing==
To quote Winston Churchill “You can always count on the Americans to do the right thing after they have tried everything else.”
- FIREDup!! - Monday, May 17, 21 @ 12:38 pm:
I love this theory that state workers haven’t been back to work. We’ve been at capacity limits in my building sense June.
- park - Monday, May 17, 21 @ 12:39 pm:
I had a mild case in September and grabbed a vax as soon as I could (February). But my neighbors, who had worse cases, claim their doc told them they didn’t need it. My understanding of the guidance is that you should get vaccinated in any event. If my doc told me I didn’t need it, I’d get a new doc.
- Mason born - Monday, May 17, 21 @ 12:39 pm:
On the vaccine’s, I think we should try the Ohio Lottery idea. Once a week award a 4 yr full ride scholarship to any IL school for those who get the jab. Let parents/grands use it for kids/grandkids. That would seem relatively cheap for the State and the funds go back into education.
- PublicServant - Monday, May 17, 21 @ 12:46 pm:
Until every child is eligible to, and has received their final dose of the vaccine, those unvaccinated by choice, or otherwise, are a risk to others and should keep their masks on, if honorable. The problem is there are a lot of dishonorable people out there. A few running for governor.
- Homebody - Monday, May 17, 21 @ 12:51 pm:
Anyone heard anything from Lightfoot’s office yet? Is Chicago going to do the “actively try to be different just for the sake of looking important” approach?
- Franklin - Monday, May 17, 21 @ 1:05 pm:
I’ve gotten both shots of the first two vaccines. Just need to get the J&J before I will feel safe enough to drop one of my three masks. Even then I will only go as far as my front porch and tell kids to get off my lawn. /s
- Rich Miller - Monday, May 17, 21 @ 1:15 pm:
===”actively try to be different just for the sake of looking important” ===
lol. Good one.
And yes https://www.msnbc.com/stephanie-ruhle/watch/mayor-lightfoot-on-cdc-guidance-they-ve-got-a-lot-of-clarification-that-they-need-to-do-112123973772
- EssentialStateEmployeeFromChatham - Monday, May 17, 21 @ 1:17 pm:
==Until every child is eligible to, and has received their final dose of the vaccine, those unvaccinated by choice, or otherwise, are a risk to others and should keep their masks on, if honorable. ==
I also think vaccinated people should remain fully masked in public until all kids of all ages become eligible for vaccines. And get their two doses. Even if it takes years.
I don’t want to return to the “new normal” until kids are able to get fully vaccinated.
- Pull My Finger - Monday, May 17, 21 @ 1:27 pm:
People must have missed the part where kids aren’t a risk schools aren’t hot spots, you know, the sciency stuff.
- Jibba - Monday, May 17, 21 @ 1:29 pm:
==Even then I will only go as far as my front porch…==
Showing the lack of empathy that sadly has characterized the last year. May you continue to be spared the misery that those less fortunate than you have had to bear.
A+ to Mason born for a good idea. We need more of this given the opinions of the recalcitrant and science-phobic.
- ChicagoBars - Monday, May 17, 21 @ 1:56 pm:
===”actively try to be different just for the sake of looking important” ===
Argh. Sigh. [Insert all the Capfax banned words and punctuation marks here].
- Manchester - Monday, May 17, 21 @ 2:25 pm:
I’m fully vaccinated but I still intend to wear the mask when shopping in stores and on the airplane next month when I travel. I don’t trust the covidiots who won’t get vaccinated to be honest and even though the risk is greatly lowered from being vaccinated you can still get Covid even though less serious.
- bungalowhistorians - Monday, May 17, 21 @ 2:57 pm:
“Pull My Finger”, maybe you missed the AAP information that children now account for 22% of new Covid cases in the US and that more of them are being hospitalized when they do contract it? It is now also in the top 10 causes of death in children and should be taken seriously. We should all keep wearing our masks in congested public spaces, vaccinated or not, until more children and others are vaccinated. It is the least we can do.
- cermak_rd - Monday, May 17, 21 @ 3:41 pm:
Mason Born,
I love the idea. And those of us without children/grandchildren could simply choose a child to receive it.
- HonorVsDarwin - Monday, May 17, 21 @ 4:33 pm:
Recent CDC data on kids hospitalization rates: Among children ages 5-17 years, weekly COVID-19-associated hospitalization peaked at 1.3 per 100,000 persons in early January, then decreased to 0.4 per 100,000 persons in mid-March. However, data from late March and April show that hospitalization rates have steadily increased among children ages 5-17 years, increasing more than 200% since mid-March to 0.9 per 100,000 persons by late April. Hospitalization rates have increased in all pediatric age groups.
For reference, the hospitalization rate for the flu is generally between .5 and 1 case per 100,000. Covid hospitalization rates are 10x higher for age 30-39 and 40x higher for age 65-75.
While the reversal and increase in Covid hospitalizations in kids is concerning it’s also good to keep things in perspective, kids are not at risk in anywhere near the rates of adults nor any greater than a household accident. The latest data doesn’t show them as significant sources of spread either.
As for the older unvaccinated population, it’s going to be an interesting battle between honor and Darwin.
- Sickntired - Monday, May 17, 21 @ 4:49 pm:
ISP, who had the earliest access, is still at home.