SPRINGFIELD – With new guidance from the CDC that addresses the need to keep students in classrooms while protecting residents from COVID-19, the Illinois Department of Public Health and Illinois State Board of Education announced in a Friday press release they are adopting new operational guidance for schools and early education from the CDC that eases some restrictions […]
Illinois Department of Public Health
Pritzker says monkeypox disaster declaration will aid in vaccine distribution; state expects to receive 13,000 doses from federal government
SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker issued a public health emergency declaration and declared Illinois a disaster area in response to the monkeypox virus Monday, a move his office said would help mobilize resources. The governor’s office said the proclamation will aid in moving vaccines to the most impacted communities and will allow the Illinois Department […]
Legislative panel suspends COVID-19 mitigations in schools; Pritzker continues to encourage masks in schools
SPRINGFIELD — A legislative panel on Tuesday voted to suspend the latest version of COVID-19 mitigations for public schools, saying in part that those rules are still being litigated in a state appellate court. The Joint Committee on Administrative rules voted 9-0, with two members voting “present,” to object to the rules and suspend them […]
Hospitalizations, deaths spike in Illinois as omicron variant spreads
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Public Health said Friday that the state had recorded 201,428 new cases of COVID-19 over the previous week, a 57 percent increase over the previous week, while the weekly number of deaths rose 15 percent, to 444 as the omicron variant of the virus continues to spread. Those cases […]
Motion to consolidate cases challenging mandatory vaccination program made to Illinois Supreme Court
Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul has made a motion to the Illinois Supreme Court to consolidate several similar cases in Illinois counties into one that challenges the orders from the state of Illinois establishing a COVID-19 vaccination and testing program for school personnel, healthcare workers and state employees. A case involving employment claims from suspended […]
Groups from multiple Chicagoland school districts join forces to challenge mandates by Pritzker, state agencies
Money is being raised in several Chicagoland school districts to join a consolidated action against Governor J.B. Pritzker, the Illinois State Board of Education and the Illinois Department of Public Health, The Kerr Report has learned. Tom DeVore, an attorney based in downstate Greenville, plans to file the action within the next week to 10 […]
Masks back on for all schools, most Illinoisans, public health leaders recommend
The Illinois Department of Public Health announced it was adopting new, stricter masking guidelines issued by the federal government, which call for universal masking at schools even for vaccinated students and staff. IDPH was also asking for indoor masking of the general public in areas of substantial or high COVID-19 transmission. By their definition, that is almost […]
Federal agency says masks should be worn in schools, universally in high-transmission areas
By JERRY NOWICKICapitol News Illinois SPRINGFIELD – The state will have new COVID-19 guidance on face coverings after the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its guidance Tuesday to reflect that even individuals vaccinated against COVID-19 should wear masks while indoors in areas of the country where the virus is surging. CDC officials […]
Chicago schools mandating masks regardless of COVID-19 vaccine status
By NOAH SHEARIllinois Policy Chicago Public Schools announced July 22 all students and staff must wear masks inside schools for the fall semester, and it doesn’t matter whether a person has received a COVID-19 vaccination. The schools will permit students and staff to remove masks only while outside and during meals. A week prior to CPS’s decision, […]
Are you the lucky winner? ‘All in for the Win’ vaccine lottery selects person from Quincy to earn $100,000
SPRINGFIELD — Three lucky winners were chosen in the first $100,000 Monday drawing as part of the state’s “All In for the Win” vaccine lottery. The Illinois Department of Public Health notified winners by phone or email starting Monday afternoon. The winners of a $100,000 cash prize in the July 12 drawing are from Quincy, Springfield […]