Strolling through the aisles of a nearby market, all sorts of back-to-school needs were on display. But missing from the supplies for a successful term were face masks.
Unsure what that means as the COVID-19 health crisis continues unabated, and we ease toward August and the start of another school year? Cue the skirmishing over face masks in the class and the polarization battles it surely will bring.
Until this week, when the Centers for Disease Control reversed course and said face masks should be worn indoors because of the rising cases of the COVID-19 delta variant, some Lake County schools were going to allow students, teachers and staff returning to the classroom to eschew wearing masks. Others expected to initiate mask wearing until those under 12 get inoculated against the coronavirus.
That was until the CDC’s new guidelines recommending even fully vaccinated Americans wear face masks again when indoors and among others, including in K-12 schools. That reverses the CDC’s previous guidance lifting mask requirements for those fully vaccinated against the virus.
In May, Gov. J.B. Pritzker — at that time following CDC mask guidance — said fully vaccinated Illinoisans could ditch their masks. Then, the governor said masks were not required except for people riding on public transportation and airplanes, and a few other exceptions.
But this latest announcement sounds like more mixed messages coming from our political leaders, especially with the continuing spread of the contagious delta variant. Glad I kept my fashionista mask wardrobe.
It also gives anti-vaxxers more pause. If those fully vaccinated still are at risk, why get inoculated at all? Nationwide, the delta variant now makes up around 83% of new cases. It is the driving cause of rising COVID cases, mostly among those unvaccinated, according to the CDC.
Lake County’s positivity rate has more than doubled over the past month, according to Lake County health department officials. The state’s positivity rate is over 4%, the highest since April. “As the delta variant becomes more prevalent nationally, we are seeing that it spreads more easily than other variants,” said Dr. Sana Ahmed, medical epidemiologist at the health department.
As of Tuesday, health officials reported 1,028 deaths in Lake County and 12,494 coronavirus cases. Statewide, the data shows just over 1.4 million cases and 23,411 deaths.
Perhaps the constant drumbeat by health professionals that being vaccinated is the only way to stay safe from the coronavirus pandemic will eventually take hold. Inoculation rates are inching up in some locations, health officials say.
But what to do with those unvaccinated students who will be ready with new backpacks and eager to start school behind a desk instead of a kitchen table? The Chicago Archdiocese had decided Lake County parochial schools would not require face masks while in class. That plan may need to be changed as Illinois looks like it will follow the CDC’s lead.
Prior to the CDC change, the health department recommended that for the 2021-22 school year, districts have prevention strategies in place. That included masking up and following Illinois Department of Public Health guidelines. To reduce COVID-19 risks, that also meant maintaining a 3-foot distance between students while in class, when possible.
For parochial schools, proof of vaccination will be required, as it will be for collegians heading back to Illinois public universities. According to health officials, 51% of Lake Countians have been fully vaccinated, while 80% of those over age 65 have been fully inoculated.
Add to this mix misinformation being sowed by nutballs over the effectiveness of wearing masks to stop the spread of the virus. Thus, we have the likelihood of brewing donnybrooks over requiring students to mask up while in the classroom.
In that event, let us remain civil in this latest accessory debate during the pandemic. For, as author Rick Bragg has noted: Civility, toward even those with whom we do not agree, is an heirloom.
Even with those who practice nutballism.
Charles Selle is a former News-Sun reporter, political editor and editor.
Twitter: @sellenews
