{"id":1331989,"date":"2022-02-23T06:20:58","date_gmt":"2022-02-23T11:20:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1331989"},"modified":"2022-02-23T11:22:36","modified_gmt":"2022-02-23T16:22:36","slug":"chicago-to-drop-most-vaccine-proof-mask-mandates-but-not-for-schools","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/chicago-to-drop-most-vaccine-proof-mask-mandates-but-not-for-schools\/","title":{"rendered":"Chicago To Drop Most Vaccine Proof, Mask Mandates \u2014 But Not For Schools"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fchicago-to-drop-most-vaccine-proof-mask-mandates-but-not-for-schools%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1331989&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><div><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/dw-wp-production.imgix.net\/2022\/02\/D181A1EF-C879-40AC-8193-15B363F7E388_1_201_a.jpeg?w=1200&#038;h=800&#038;ixlib=react-9.3.0\" class=\"ff-og-image-inserted\" alt=\"image\" \/><\/div>\n<p class=\"p1\">The city of Chicago could be moving toward a more open society, but not yet for its schools.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">On Tuesday, Democratic Mayor Lori Lightfoot <a href=\"https:\/\/www.chicagotribune.com\/news\/breaking\/ct-chicago-covid-20220222-njbpvniiivfbrbaxpfwocnqhhq-story.html\"><span class=\"s1\">announced<\/span><\/a> that the city will be ending its mask mandate for most areas, and its proof of vaccination requirement for restaurants, bars, and other indoor settings at the end of February.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Lightfoot said she will \u201cnot hesitate\u201d to make new regulations and mandates in the future to safeguard public health but noted that her aim is to not \u201cshut down our economy again.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>ABC Chicago <a href=\"https:\/\/abc7chicago.com\/chicago-mask-and-vaccine-mandate-lori-lightfoot-covid-update\/11591783\/\">reported<\/a> that \u201cLightfoot said the key metrics of cases and hospitalization numbers are putting Chicago in a position to no longer require masks in most indoor spaces.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">\u201cBecause we are now on the downward slope of that surge, we don\u2019t believe that there is any further need for these mandates,\u201d Lightfoot\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/abc7chicago.com\/chicago-mask-and-vaccine-mandate-lori-lightfoot-covid-update\/11591783\/\"><span class=\"s1\">said<\/span><\/a>. \u201cIt\u2019s important for us to recognize this moment for what it is \u2014 a huge step forward in our effort to overcome COVID-19.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Businesses can still mandate masks or vaccination proof. The mayor also <a href=\"https:\/\/www.chicagotribune.com\/news\/breaking\/ct-chicago-covid-20220222-njbpvniiivfbrbaxpfwocnqhhq-story.html\">said<\/a> she will keep wearing a mask in public settings.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">\u201cParticularly in a restaurant setting, where I have no idea now whether the people sitting around me are vaccinated, I\u2019ll be wearing a mask,\u201d Lightfoot said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Authorities also <a href=\"https:\/\/abc7chicago.com\/chicago-mask-and-vaccine-mandate-lori-lightfoot-covid-update\/11591783\/\">noted<\/a> that COVID-19 cases are down 97% from a high point in late December. Masks will still be mandated on public transportation, in healthcare locations, some <a href=\"https:\/\/chicago.suntimes.com\/city-hall\/2022\/2\/22\/22946054\/chicago-coronavirus-mask-mandates-covid-restrictions-vaccine-proof-bars-restaurants-gyms-lightfoot\">other<\/a> congregate areas per CDC guidelines and federal rules, and in Chicago Public Schools.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady <a href=\"https:\/\/abc7chicago.com\/chicago-mask-and-vaccine-mandate-lori-lightfoot-covid-update\/11591783\/\">said<\/a> she is not expecting a large increase in COVID-19 cases following next week.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">\u201cWe always expect as we lift some mitigations that we\u2019ll see a little bit of a resurgence,\u201d Arwady said. \u201cOne of the reasons why we don\u2019t want to move too soon is to make sure that at the time that we lift that we can tolerate a little bit of an increase there. I\u2019m very confident that the next short while here is likely to be reasonably calm.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Arwady <a href=\"https:\/\/www.axios.com\/local\/chicago\/2022\/02\/23\/mask-and-vaccine-rules-to-relax-starting-monday\">said<\/a> mask requirements could come back \u201cif we get back into a higher risk setting.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">The move comes as Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker (D) plans to get rid of the indoor mask mandate for most public areas on February 28th if the number of cases of COVID-19 continue to go down.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">The governor reportedly <a href=\"https:\/\/www.chicagotribune.com\/coronavirus\/ct-illinois-mask-mandate-covid-20220215-j3kxib4tzreudd2cg7xehqwtpu-list.html\"><span class=\"s1\">wants<\/span><\/a> to maintain mask mandates for schools. His administration tried to get rid of a court ruling that questioned his legal ability for requiring masks, quarantines, and vaccination or testing rules for employees.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">As the Chicago Tribune <a href=\"https:\/\/www.chicagotribune.com\/coronavirus\/ct-illinois-mask-mandate-covid-20220215-j3kxib4tzreudd2cg7xehqwtpu-list.html\"><span class=\"s1\">reported<\/span><\/a>: \u201cThe ruling by Sangamon County Circuit Judge Raylene Grischow <span class=\"s2\">threw schools into disarray<\/span>, as some districts immediately switched to a mask optional policy while others only allowed students whose families were part of the lawsuit to be exempt from mask requirements. Chicago Public Schools is continuing universal masking and other COVID-19 mitigation measures, while some suburban districts that initially kept their requirements in place have since\u00a0<span class=\"s2\">given way to more lenient policies<\/span>.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">An appeals court in Illinois tossed the governor\u2019s attempt to overturn the ruling since the COVID-19 emergency rules were over, essentially making it so that Illinois school districts cannot force students and workers to wear face coverings. However, \u201cthe decision leaves room for school systems to implement their own COVID-19 safety rules,\u201d per the Tribune.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">\u201cBecause the emergency rules voided by the [Temporary Restraining Order] are no longer in effect, a controversy regarding the application of those rules no longer exists. Thus, the matter is moot,\u201d the appellate court justices <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcchicago.com\/news\/local\/illinois-appellate-court-dismisses-pritzkers-appeal-blocking-state-from-enforcing-mask-mandate-in-schools\/2763214\/\"><span class=\"s1\">wrote<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">The justices also stated, \u201cWe note the language of the TRO in no way restrains school districts from acting independently from the executive orders or the IDPH in creating provisions addressing COVID-19.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">The governor and Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul\u00a0(D) <a href=\"https:\/\/newschannel20.com\/news\/local\/pritzker-files-school-mask-mandate-appeal-with-supreme-court\"><span class=\"s1\">filed<\/span><\/a> an appeal with the Illinois Supreme Court.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">While lots of school districts around Illinois have made masks optional, Chicago Public Schools (CPS) will continue to require masks following a January deal made with the teachers union.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">\u201cWe have made great progress in recent weeks against this virus, and we do not want to jeopardize that progress by moving too quickly,\u201d CPS said in a release. \u201cWe look forward to the day when we can be mask-optional at CPS, but we still need to get more students vaccinated across our district, and we still need to work with our public health and labor partners on the best way to preserve a safe in-person learning environment for all.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In a statement, the Chicago Teachers Union <a href=\"https:\/\/chicago.suntimes.com\/city-hall\/2022\/2\/22\/22946054\/chicago-coronavirus-mask-mandates-covid-restrictions-vaccine-proof-bars-restaurants-gyms-lightfoot\">said<\/a> it was \u201cglad that CPS will continue to honor the safety agreement that our members sacrificed four days of pay [for] last month \u2026 despite a right-wing legal attack to remove public health protections.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cStill, a lawsuit by CPS parents in Mount Greenwood against the mandate could impact the situation going forward,\u201d the Chicago Sun Times <a href=\"https:\/\/chicago.suntimes.com\/city-hall\/2022\/2\/22\/22946054\/chicago-coronavirus-mask-mandates-covid-restrictions-vaccine-proof-bars-restaurants-gyms-lightfoot\">reported<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">The Tribune <a href=\"https:\/\/www.chicagotribune.com\/news\/breaking\/ct-chicago-covid-20220222-njbpvniiivfbrbaxpfwocnqhhq-story.html\"><span class=\"s1\">noted<\/span><\/a>:<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p class=\"p1\"><i>The Chicago Board of Education is poised to vote on a resolution at Wednesday\u2019s monthly board meeting that would ratify district COVID-19 safety measures including universal masking of students and staff; testing for unvaccinated employees; and directing those who test positive or have been exposed to the virus to temporarily stay home.<\/i><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><i>Through the resolution, the board would also reaffirm CPS CEO Pedro Martinez\u2019s authority to change district COVID-19 policies in consultation with public health officials \u201cand other stakeholders,\u201d which presumably include the Chicago Teachers Union.<\/i><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p class=\"p2\"><span class=\"s1\"><i>The Daily Wire\u2019s first original film, Shut In, has made its cinematic debut, being met with rave reviews. The Daily Wire is building an alternative to the leftist entertainment industry, one gripping movie at a time. Join us in this mission and stream Shut In today by becoming a Daily Wire <\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/subscribe\"><span class=\"s2\"><i>member<\/i><\/span><\/a><i>.<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The city of Chicago could be moving toward a more open society, but not yet for its schools.On Tuesday, Democratic Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced that the city will be ending<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2315279,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1331989","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1331989","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1331989"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1331989\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2315279"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1331989"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1331989"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1331989"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}