CDC’s New Mask Guidance: Illinoisans Weigh In
A sign warns visitors to mask before entering the Menards in Morris, Illinois, in June 2020. flickr.com/risingthermals (cc by-nc 2.0)
Last week, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control said people fully vaccinated against COVID-19 can forgo masks and physical distancing in most indoor settings. Here in Illinois, with just more than a third of the population fully vaccinated, Gov. J.B. Pritzker has indicated he’s looking at how to ease the statewide mask mandate in light of the new CDC guidance.
The 21st spoke with three guests about what the CDC’s new guidelines mean — and whether or not people should continue wearing masks.
Guests:
Dr. Vidya Sundareshan @Idfac
Professor, Interim Chief of Infectious Diseases
Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield
Rebecca Smith, Ph.D. @rlsdvm_epivet
Epidemiologist, Associate Professor of Pathobiology
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Jennifer Kline, Ph.D. @sahealthsystem
Director of Infection Prevention
Swedish American Hospital, Rockford, Illinois