* New Axios/Ipsos poll…

Two-thirds (64%) support their state or local government requiring masks to be worn in all public places. […]

Almost seven in ten (69%) support their local school districts requiring teachers, students, and administrators to wear masks in schools. Mask requirements in schools have broad support among the public, with no significant difference in support among parents (68%) and non-parents (70%). […]

About half (51%) of those who are employed report that their employer is requiring all employees to wear a mask at work. […]

Three in five Americans (63%) say they are wearing a mask at least sometimes when leaving the home. This marks a six-point increase from late July/early August, and an 11-point increase from mid-July.

Point being, Illinois news outlets which have been endlessly hyping small anti-mask protests really need to ease up on the ol’ Facebook time. Social media is not reality.

* The difference between now and then, of course, is that we now have a vaccine…

The average number of new daily COVID-19 cases in Chicago topped 400 Monday, the highest it’s been since May 7 and a tenfold increase from the rate’s lowest point in June.

The 400-case bench mark is another indicator of the latest coronavirus surge, this one largely driven by the contagious delta variant and mostly sickening those who aren’t vaccinated. It’s a metric that Chicago’s top doctor also has referred to as “a line in the sand for us.”

That was in August 2020, when city and Chicago Public Schools officials announced that they would start the 2020-21 school year with all remote learning.

Then again, kids under 12 can’t be vaxed yet.

* The same admonition about vaxes applies here…

Gov. JB Pritzker didn’t directly say Monday whether he would extend the state’s eviction moratorium for those facing hardships due to the COVID-19 pandemic as cases, deaths and hospitalizations for the virus continue to rise.

“We’ve looked at that, we continue to look at it. We’ll make a decision about that soon,” Pritzker said at an unrelated news conference in Springfield when asked if he would extend the moratorium, which is set to expire at the end of the month.

The governor’s comments come as COVID-19 intensive care bed utilization has increased by 290 percent on a weekly average since July 11. Positivity rates and death counts also continue to rise, although vaccinations have picked up in recent days as well.

When it comes to evictions, Illinois courts are currently under a Supreme Court order until Sept. 1 allowing for the filing of eviction claims but staying certain final trials and judgements. Pritzker’s current disaster declaration and associated eviction moratorium is due to be renewed or expire on Aug. 21.

* I saw a couple people wearing masks last night, but not many…

Fairgoers are required to wear a mask at the Illinois State Fair and that includes food vendors. It’s a message that Newschannel20 and Fox Illinois have repeatedly shared from the state.

But what is the state doing to enforce that policy after reports that hardly anyone is following it?

As the Illinois State Fair goes on for its fifth day, fairgoers that after every year including Quinn Slightom noticed others are not following the rules.

“I don’t remember the last time I saw a mask besides my own, I don’t think anybody cares,” Slightom said.

The food vendors, at least, really should be masked up.

* Related…

* Despite vaccine mandate, IDOC staff only at 44% inoculation

* Chicago pharmacist charged with selling authentic COVID-19 vaccine cards on eBay

* Stevenson High School District 125 mandates teacher and staff vaccinations by October

* Retail sales drop worse-than-expected 1.1% in July as rising Covid fears hit consumers

* September unemployment cliff looms for 7 million Americans

* This Summer Was Destined for Failure