* Thank you, drive through…

More than a third of vaccinated workers reported anger at the transmission risk posed by their unvaccinated peers, according to a survey of more than 400 employees in late August by workplace consultancy Seyfarth at Work. About a quarter of non-inoculated employees said they’re upset at the growing restrictions against them.

Some workers are now hardening their stance, and “verbalizing gripes to one another and management,” the survey showed. To make their point, a group of unvaccinated employees at an engineering company has organized under the nickname of the “Vexcluded” to protest that they are being turned into outcasts, Philippe Weiss, president of Seyfarth at Work, said in the report. […]

The schism also shows up in disagreements about why the delta variant continues to spread. Four out of five of the vaccinated blame the unvaccinated for the number of rising cases, according to the results Tuesday from the Axios-Ipsos Coronavirus Index. Among the unvaccinated, only 10% thought they were at fault.

You made your choice. You’re endangering others who can’t be vaccinated and who are in danger of experiencing a breakthrough case. Deal with the consequences.

* From that aforementioned poll…

1. Concern with the pandemic continues to climb, with the Delta variant a pronounced cause of worry.

• Three in five Americans (60%) believe returning to their pre-coronavirus life right now would be a large or moderate risk, the highest level since early March.
• Three quarters (78%) of Americans are at least somewhat concerned about the COVID-19 outbreak at this time. Just as many (80%) are concerned about the Delta variant spreading in the U.S.

2. Opposition to getting the coronavirus vaccine has dropped to the lowest levels ever.

• Only one in five (20%) Americans say they are not likely to get the coronavirus vaccine, the lowest level since we started tracking. Hard opposition, those not at all likely, has dropped to 14% of adults.
• The number of parents who say they are likely to get their kids vaccinated has surged over the last week, now two-thirds (68%) report they are likely to vaccinate their kids or they already have. Opposition to vaccinating their kids has dropped to less than a third (31%) of parents.

[…]

4. American support of more vigorous anti-COVID policies continues to be strong, even as more Americans are experiencing them.

• Majorities of Americans continue to support policies requiring the use of masks in schools (70%) or public places (66%).
• Working Americans also continue to support vaccine requirements by their employer (57%).
• About one in five (19%) working Americans report that their employer currently requires vaccination but over half (54%) report masks being required in the workplace.

[…]

6. Vaccinated and unvaccinated America look in very different directions for the cause of the current surge in COVID cases.

• Four out of five (79%) of the vaccinated point to the unvaccinated as who they blame for rising cases. Beyond the unvaccinated, a third points to Donald Trump (36%), conservative media (33%), and people from other countries traveling to the United States (30%).
• Among the unvaccinated, there is not a single group pointed to as the main cause, especially not the unvaccinated (10%). Among the leading culprits are people traveling to the US (37%), Americans traveling abroad (23%), mainstream media (27%), and Joe Biden (21%).

The literal dead-enders are being overwhelmed by popular opinion…

“It’s amazing to me to see people I know that are really smart college-educated people that still believe some of the lies like it’s (vaccine) magnetized or whatever,” Kinzinger said. “The good news is the hesitancy is declining

* Crain’s…

Fans planning to attend Chicago Bulls or Blackhawks games, concerts or other events at the United Center will be required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative test to get in, the arena announced today.

The new protocol for the Near West Side venue goes into effect immediately “and will remain in place until further notice,” the venue said in a statement, calling the decision “representative of the continued commitment to providing the best environment for a safe return for all fans and employees.” […]

The new rules amount to a highly effective way to safely host big indoor events, said infectious disease specialist Dr. Vishnu Chundi, chairman of the Chicago Medical Society’s COVID-19 task force.

“If you’re going to have an indoor event, this is the safest place to have (it)” with the new protocols in place, he said. He also noted the air turnover rate in the building—the pace at which air is changed out of a room—is faster than it is in many hospital operating rooms.”

* More…

* Covid Medical Bills Are About to Get Bigger: As some insurers focus on encouraging vaccination, temporary waivers that kept patient costs low are expiring.

* Champaign County’s transmission rates rising to pre-vaccine levels

* CDC releases report on The Crossing COVID-19 outbreak: Of concern were a 5-day overnight church camp for teenagers in Schuyler County and a 2-day men’s conference at The Crossing campus in Quincy. According to the CDC, neither COVID-19 vaccinations nor testing were required by The Crossing at either event. The report sets the total number of confirmed outbreak-associated cases at 180 as of August 13. Although the report suggests that number is likely much higher than investigators can confirm.

* Kids In Illinois Will Soon Be Able To Take 5 Mental Health Days From School

* Nearly 100 Quarantined After COVID ‘Outbreak’ Reported at Sycamore School, Supt. Says

* Chicago Teachers Union warns of ‘escalating actions’ if COVID-19 safety doesn’t improve in CPS schools, stops short of saying members might strike again

* Some CPS Parents Push to Obtain Remote Learning Waiver

* People with Delta Variant Can Transmit Virus 2 Days Before Having Symptoms: As a result, nearly three-quarters of infections with Delta happen during the presymptomatic phase, the research suggests.

* GM, Ford halt some production as chip shortage worsens: Industry analysts say the delta variant of the novel coronavirus has hit employees at chip factories in southeast Asia hard, forcing some plants to close.

* No one knows how many Chicago cops are vaccinated against Covid-19

* Police Say Demoralized Officers Are Quitting In Droves. Labor Data Says No.

* As COVID cases rise, vaccinations to resume at Peoria Civic Center

* Carle Health raises minimum wage to $15 an hour