Confusion over masks again: Should everyone in Illinois wear a mask indoors?

Thanks to the highly contagious Delta variant, some experts are urging even the fully vaccinated to keep up mask-wearing indoors

(Atoms/Unsplash)

The Delta variant, first seen in India, has now been detected in all 50 U.S. states and Washington DC. It's more contagious, more aggressive, and accounts for more than a quarter of all new cases in the U.S.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker told reporters at a press conference earlier this week, "the Delta variant that sent Israel back into mitigation is a growing presence in Illinois." He continued, "We expect it to dominate our cases statewide by the fall."

It's been a little more than a month when the state of Illinois relaxed its mask mandate to follow guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If you're fully vaccinated, the Illinois Department of Health (IDPH) says you don't need to wear a mask inside in most situations.

However, some experts urge the return of mask mandates due to stagnant vaccination rates and the spread of the contagious Delta variant.

Mask guidelines vary across the world

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends masks for everyone, even the fully vaccinated. Mariangela Simao, WHO assistant director-general for access to medicines, vaccines, and pharmaceuticals said during a news briefing, “People cannot feel safe just because they had the two doses. They still need to protect themselves."

Health officials in Los Angeles County are following the WHO recommendations, calling for all residents to wear masks indoors regardless of their vaccine status. Though not a mandate, it is a "recommendation."

"With increase circulation of the highly transmissible Delta variant, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) strongly recommends everyone, regardless of vaccination status, wear masks indoors in public places as a precautionary measure."

No current mask mandate for Illinois

Although he hasn't given any indication he will reinstate the mask mandate, Gov. Pritzker has begun wearing his mask indoors again and is urging others to do the same.

During a recent business opening in North Lawndale, Pritzker and his staff kept their masks on the entire time. He urged Illinois residents to keep their masks with them at all times.

"Just out of an abundance of caution I wanted to wear a mask today," Pritzker said. "We have a number of people here and I thought it was appropriate to do so. We're all making judgment calls. I think when we leave our home every day, I would encourage everybody, whether you're vaccinated or not, to bring your mask with you. You know what the guidelines are across the state of Illinois and use your mask accordingly."

Chicago's top doctor offers guidance

In Chicago, Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady took to Facebook Live to explain to the public that Chicago is continuing to follow the CDC's mask recommendations, not the WHO guidance.

"The WHO is making that recommendation for the whole world," Arwady said. "The CDC, on the other hand, has made the recommendation that people who are fully vaccinated do not need to mask, whereas people who are unvaccinated should continue to mask."

However, she did state there may be some occasions fully vaccinated people will want to continue to wear masks.

Arwady said, "if you're fully vaccinated and you have concerns right, you have an immune system problem, you have kids who aren't vaccinated, you are worried about people in your social network who may not be vaccinated, or you just want to be extra careful - certainly individuals are continuing in some cases to continue wearing that mask and I welcome people to do that."

Do vaccines work against the Delta variant?

Yes, they are effective. Two doses of the Pfizer vaccine are found to be 88% effective against the Delta variant, though one dose offers much less protection. And Moderna announced that its vaccine was also found to protect against the Delta variant.

Though studies have not been completed of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, experts remain hopeful that the one-dose vaccine is also effective at preventing hospitalization and death from variants like the Delta variant.

Regions with low vaccination rates, like southwest Missouri, are seeing surges in Covid-19 cases due to the Delta variant. Hospitals are so overwhelmed in Springfield, Missouri, they are forced to send some Covid patients hundreds of miles away, to hospitals in Kansas City and St. Louis.

Will mask mandates return in Illinois?

While Illinois officials aren't mandating masks at this time, if the Delta variant takes hold among the unvaccinated population and cases begin to rise, it's possible mitigation efforts might be reinstated.

Dr. Arwady isn't ruling out the possibility of changing mask guidelines in Chicago if conditions change.

"We're keeping a really close eye on our local data here, on our genomic surveillance, and if there is a need to make a change to that recommendation it's something we would do. But right now, I think we are feeling good about where we are."

It seems, for now, the key to keeping the masks off and having some degree of normality is working on improving vaccination rates.

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