Beginning in early January, all patrons at restaurants, gyms or entertainment venues where food is served will be required to show a proof of COVID vaccination, or of a negative COVID test withinseven days of their entry into the building. If these trends continue, and we expect on Monday, Feb. 28, we will lift the indoor mask requirement for the state of Illinois.. Review the CDC vaccination schedules for infants and children, preteens and teens, and adults found under Resources. Here are the places where vaccine proof will be required - and where it won't. Two doses of measles vaccine, the first dose must have been received on or after the 1st birthday and the second dose no less than 4 weeks (28 days) later. Landon said unmasked classrooms and counties without school mask mandates have been more likely to go remote or suspend classes than districts where students do wear masks. You now need proof of COVID-19 vaccination and a photo ID to get in most places. Illinois state law requires certain immunizations for children and adults enrolled in child care, school, or college. For the majority of the pandemic, politicians have pointed to the number of COVID cases as the most important metric for decision-making. Chicago will start the new year with some added restrictions as a vaccine mandate for certain indoor spaces is set to begin next month. Two doses of mumps vaccine, the 1st dose must have been received on or after the first birthday and the second dose no less than 4 weeks (28 days) later. The Supreme Court ruling has revived the debate over COVID vaccine mandates. 4th dose at least 6 months after previous dose. "I do cardio in the morning sometimes and I haven't been able to run, I've been only doing walking because running with a mask is a little bit, it's not optimal," said gym member Rick McEachern. Chicago and Cook County have implemented vaccine mandates, requiring proof of vaccination to enter gyms, restaurants and other venues. J.B. Pritzker sits down for an interview at the Marriott Marquis hotel in Chicago on June 29, 2022. Starting school year 2017-2018 any child entering Kindergarten shall show proof of 4 dose series with the last dose on or after the 4th birthday. The school rule must stay in place because schools see hundreds and sometimes thousands of people mingling for six hours or more, five days per week for weeks on end, which is very different than a sports game or bar, Pritzker said. The president of Harper College in Palatine said she supported the governors new rules. Immunizations protect children against the following: Chickenpox Diphtheria Hepatitis B Businesses, cities, counties and other entities can still enforce their own mask mandates. But when cases are low, the likelihood of encountering someone with COVID is also low, making universal masking mandates less impactful. All rights reserved, Illinois Secretary of State's Office Offers REAL IDs at World of Wheels This Weekend, Hundreds Attend Prayer Vigil for Slain Chicago Police Officer Andres Vasquez-Lasso, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its masking guidance Friday, New Ranking Names Most Expensive Cities In Illinois and These Chicago Suburbs Top the List, Body of Missing Genoa Man Recovered From River: Authorities, These Starved Rock Tiny Cabins Are Perfect For a Weekend Getaway, Buc-ee's, a Texas-Based Convenience Store Chain, Proposes First Wisconsin Location. JB Pritzker at Navy Pier Monday. State law also mandates immunizations for adults in specific fields of work (healthcare). Here's a full breakdown of the guidelines. Some local governments and districts have already said masking is not required in schools after a downstate judge declared the statewide school requirement null and void. Chicago Public Schools still requires masking. With COVID cases rising across the U.S. and the holiday travel rush already underway, Chicago's travel advisory has been updated once again, with a total of 47 states and two territories now on the city's warning list days before Christmas. Navy Pier is offering free rides on the Centennial Wheel to celebrate the lifting of the mask mandate. The immediate effect of the change may not be drastic because, as of Tuesday, all 102 counties in Illinois were considered high-transmission areas, according to the CDC. The tone Im aware of is most people have moved on, but of course, there are still parents who are nervous about the health of their medically fragile children, Burkey said, adding he expected many school districts will resume their saliva-based testing programs in the fall. Children 24-59 months of age without series shall show proof of one dose of Hib vaccine at 15 months or older. Delegates to the National Education Associations annual meeting again called for mask and vaccine mandates, as well as remote learning. 802 South 2nd Street | Springfield, IL 62704 "I would still recommend that if you are in indoor spaces, especially those that are crowded, that you put on a mask," said Dr. Rachel Rubin, Cook County Department of Health. The happy faces will also be displayed on the hub of the wheel this month. "I can't complain.". Beginning Jan. 3, anyone age 5 and older will be required to show proof of full vaccination to dine inside or visit gyms or entertainment venues where food and drinks are being served. and Terms of Service apply. Mask mandates are also a part of safety agreements with the Chicago Teachers Union, but CDPH Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady is hopeful the school mask mandate will be lifted soon. Experts had been saying that more information on the omicron variant was expected in the weeks following its detection. The Chicago-based chain, which also has locations in Milwaukee, Minneapolis and Dallas, opened the Wicker Park location in 2017. The Noble Network of Charter Schools, which serves close to 13,000 students in 18 schools across the city, is among them. The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) have updated this joint summary, fully adopting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Operational Guidance for K-12 Schools and Early Care and Education Programs to Support Safe In-Person Learning (updated as of August 11, 2022). As of Tuesday, every state or territory except for Guam, Louisiana, South Carolina, and the Virgin Islands are on the Travel Advisory. I teach at Northwestern and have a higher exposure risk," said Justin Mann. 300 S. Riverside Plaza | 1650 | Chicago, IL 60606 J.B. Pritzker is ending Illinois' COVID-19 vaccine mandate for college students and faculty and easing some testing requirements for unvaccinated health care workers, changes that come. Previously, the United Center had required proof of vaccination (and did not accept a negative test) for entry, and required all event-goers to wear masks. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy Federal health officials this week unveiled a strategy for attempting to manage the highly transmissible omicron subvariants that now make up the majority of cases nationally and doctors have urged a renewed sense of vigilance. Two metrics hospital and ICU beds occupied by COVID-19 patients are in the next-highest category, while the citys average number of cases diagnosed per day is still in the high category. McNeill also echoed the concerns of some business owners who worry that customers will take out their frustration on the new rules on employees who are trying to do their jobs. Chicago, Cook County to lift mask mandates and vaccine requirement Feb. 28, lift the citys proof of vaccination requirement. Broadway in Chicago as well as Symphony Center and the Lyric Opera will continue to require masks, and proof of vaccination for audience members. Two doses of rubella vaccine, the first dose must have been received on or after the 1st birthday and the second dose no less than 4 weeks (28 days) later. Kelly Bauer 8:24 AM CST on Feb 9, 2022 (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune). 2022 St. Charles City Council rejects vaccine mandate . Chicago officials announced theyll also lift the citys mask and vaccine card requirements at the end of February if local metrics decline. Since we dont know what new variants may come our way, when and where theyll show up, how our existing natural and/or vaccine-induced immunity may or may not protect us we could be playing with fire since we are flying blind with respect to being able to quickly understand the on-the-ground situation., Pritzkers decision to leave the vaccination requirement in place for employees in K-12 schools was praised by the leaders of the states largest school district and its two largest teachers unions. statewide school requirement null and void., the citys mask mandate could be removed soon. Illinois seven-day test positivity rate, which measures the percentage of tests that were positive, was at 6.5 percent. Now all city employees, including police officers, must be vaccinated. Everyone 5 and older is eligible to get vaccinated in Chicago. Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady on Tuesday gave a breakdown on which COVID-19 variant is currently leading the surge in the Midwest. Two doses by 1 year of age. The tweaks by Pritzker to the pandemic rules follow complaints and lawsuits by conservatives claiming the governor has overstepped his authority. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot says that the new rules are going into effect because of rapid increases in COVID cases, with the city seeing a 500% increase in daily case averages over the last two months, and increases in hospitalizations, which have risen each of the last 30 days. Chicago will soon require proof of COVID vaccination to access indoor public spaces, but will you be able to show a negative test result instead? "A lot of people are hoping this is over and I'm here to tell you it's not," said Jesu Estrada, People's Response Network to COVID-19. The state reported 4,742 cases since Tuesday. They have used the restrictions to try to undercut Pritzkers reelection bid versus the GOP nominee for governor, state Sen. Darren Bailey of Xenia. About 91% of CPS staff members are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, the district said, along with more than 54% of the eligible student population. Proof of prior measles disease shall be verified with date of illness signed by a physician or laboratory evidence of measles immunity. Once mask mandates are lifted throughout Illinois and Chicago on Monday, face coverings will no longer be required in many places . t 312.346.5700 f 312.896.2500, Springfield Office | Illinois Policy Thats not to be confused with the CDCs COVID-19 community levels, which measure both the prevalence of cases and the strain on the health care system. Greg Bishop reports on Illinois government and other issues for The Center Square. Chicago and Cook County health officials said they will lift the citys proof of vaccination requirement and indoor mask mandate by Feb. 28, nearly two years under COVID-19 mitigations. Someone may be immunocompromised, prefer to wear a mask or have a family member who is immunocompromised or too young to be vaccinated. "Hospitalizations are way down, cases are way down, and we hope that we can sustain that for the spring and summer and, frankly, forever more," said Gov. J.B. Pritzker will lift his indoor mask mandate for most public places on Feb. 28 if the state's largest coronavirus surge continues to subside, a move that comes as Democratic . In addition, students entering, transferring, or advancing into kindergarten, 6th, or 9th grades are required to show proof of receipt of 2 doses of varicella vaccine. For the 2022-2023 school year, the four-dose requirement applies to grades K-5 Minimum Intervals Allowed Between Doses and Other Options for Proof of Immunity Minimum interval between series doses: 4 weeks (28 days) 4 th dose at least 6 months after previous dose No proof of immunity allowed Measles Vaccine Requirement The city's vaccine mandate for bar and restaurant patrons could be rescinded "quite soon" if COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations keep falling as drastically as they have over the past two . The districts 330,000 students started their two-week winter break this week as the new Omicron variant takes hold in the city and the rest of the country. The Illinois State Capitol in Springfield, Illinois. As it is, were having difficulty finding people to help us.. I would feel more comfortable with relaxing requirements if we had a high-functioning surveillance system and were prepared to make tough decisions based on what it was telling us, said Gerardin, whos previously been critical of the administration for being too quick to remove restrictions. Chicago's top doctor said that while we are still learning about the variant and research continues to develop, an early look at the latest data has led to some findings so far. The United Center is also keeping a requirement to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test. story CHICAGO (WLS) -- The state of Illinois is changing its. Proof of immunization that complies with the ACIP recommendation for Hib vaccination. It was literally something you had to put in place so that local government could prepare, Gov. Brendan McNeill, owner of D4 Irish Pub and Caf, says that the new rules, while understandable, are going to pose a challenge to businesses that are already struggling with adequate staffing. starts here. Pritzker said that mandate could be lifted in the coming weeks if rates continue their downward trajectory. Statutory Authority: Nursing Home Care Act [210 ILCS 45] The following rules have an effective date of July 15, 2022 and remain in place for a maximum of 150 days: Assisted Living and Shared Housing Establishment Code, 77 Ill. Adm. Code 295 Statutory Authority: Implementing and authorized by the Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act [210 ILCS 9] This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy Northwestern . Such information includes immunization schedules and immunization health education material request forms. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is working with public health departments, health care providers, and other partners to make sure people can easily get Still some businesses said they'll let staff decide whether they want to go maskless or not. As a news piece, this article cites verifiable, third-party sources which have all been thoroughly fact-checked and deemed credible by the Newsroom. Subscribe to Block Club Chicago,an independent, 501(c)(3), journalist-run newsroom. ". Proof of prior mumps disease shall be verified with date of illness signed by a physician or laboratory evidence of mumps immunity. Here are some options for how you can show proof of vaccination. Neither CPS or Noble Charter Schools are giving timetables are when decisions will be made on masks, but both said if all goes well, mandates will likely be lifted before the end school year. The previous record for hospitalizations was set in November 2020, when . The Chicago Transit Authority reminded travelers Saturday that masks are still required on public buses and trains, as well as within the station. On Nov. 8 voters will decide whether to grant Illinois union bosses more power to set school policy. City data shows more than 1.8 million Chicagoans or 67.6 percent of all residents are fully vaccinated, and 75.6 percent of all Chicagoans have gotten at least one shot. No testing will be required in areas of low transmission. In fact, while you may not have experienced it with your initial doses of the vaccine, there's still a chance you could see it following a booster shot. Once three of the four fall into the lower transmission risk category and stay there for at least two weeks, the city will lift restrictions, according to the health department. As of Monday, Chicagoans will no longer be required to show proof of coronavirus vaccination in most indoor spaces, although there are some exceptions. But as we saw, things started to rise and it was good thing that people in Illinois were maybe ahead of others to say, time to put masks back on so yeah, there may come a time in the future when we need to do that.. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune). Over the past week, the state of Illinois has been averaging more than 185,000 COVID tests per day, an all-time high in the face of a surge in cases likely caused by the omicron variant in the United States. Indicates that a Newsmaker/Newsmakers was/were physically present to report the article from some/all of the location(s) it concerns.