Public school, community college and public university employees who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 are now entitled to paid administrative leave for any days they miss this school year due to coronavirus-related issues.
COVID
QPS and other local districts to comply with court order; masks no longer required
Quincy Public Schools Superintendent Roy Webb released a statement Saturday evening saying District 172 would no longer enforce masking requirements for students and staff and would cease testing of unvaccinated staff.
Sangamon Co. Judge blocks schools from enforcing mask, vaccine mandates… refers to policies as ‘type of evil’
In a 30-page ruling late Friday, Sangamon County Circuit Court Judge Raylene Grischow “deemed null and void” the governor’s emergency rules through the Illinois Department of Public Health concerning COVID-19 mitigations for schools.
Missouri AG Schmitt sues dozens of schools over mask mandates
Just as he had promised earlier in the week, Attorney General Eric Schmitt unveiled a slate of lawsuits against Missouri schools Friday in an effort to halt their mask policies.
IDOC pauses some prisoner intakes from county jails due to Omicron surge
IDOC is utilizing space normally reserved for new admissions to safely quarantine and isolate incarcerated individuals who have been exposed or tested positive for COVID-19. The Department will continue accepting individuals from county jails who are scheduled to be released from custody the same day they are transferred.
Pritzker blames unvaccinated as COVID patients fill Illinois hospitals amid Omicron surge
Gov. JB Pritzker and other health officials from across Illinois on Monday identified unvaccinated people as the cause for healthcare systems stretched to their limits as the state experiences a fifth COVID wave driven by the virus’ extremely contagious Omicron variant.
OSHA Suspends Emergency Temporary Standard on COVID-19 Vaccinations and Testing for Employers with 100 or More Employees
Court decision has no effect on vaccine mandates applying in healthcare settings or to federal contractors and subcontractors On Thursday, November 4, 2021, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) published an Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) that establishes minimum COVID-19 vaccination and testing requirements for private employers with 100 or more employees throughout the United […]
Inaction or overreaction? We’re heading toward an unhappy ending here
There are times when a State’s Attorney has discretion in enforcing laws. School districts also have discretion as to who they allow into their buildings for certain reasons. Quincy and Adams County are suffering because of both of these facts. Adams County Public Health Administrator Jerrod Welch has done what he has thought is right […]
QPS to go mask optional…for the most part
The Quincy School Board Wednesday voted unanimously to make masks optional, for the most part, for the upcoming 2021-22 school year. On the day after QPS Superintendent Roy Webb released the district’s COVID-19 precaution plan, the School Board passed it 7-0 following more than 90 minutes of public comment before a packed house at the […]
Blessing Hospital adjusts visiting hours for non-COVID inpatients
Blessing Hospital now is allowing non-COVID inpatients to have two visitors at a time in their room between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., and the Blessing Hospital Cafeteria and the Tea Room are now open to visitors. COVID positive patients may have one visitor per day between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. if the visitor […]
