CHICAGO – Governor Pritzker declared Illinois' Omicron emergency as subsiding during a press conference in Chicago Wednesday.
"If these trends continue, on February 28th, we will lift the indoor mask mandate," Pritzker said.
Despite his proposed mandate lift in two weeks, local authorities may still require masks – and their positions should be respected, he said. The lifting of the state requirement should not dissuade those not wearing masks from those that are wearing masks, he said.
And despite the Omicron variant attacking both vaccinated and unvaccinated over the last month, he emphasized, "Vaccines work. Masks work."
He applauded the 7000 Illinoisans that got COVID vaccines Tuesday for the first time.
Compassion for each other is a hallmark of being an Illinoisan, he said."Get boosted if you haven't been yet.
Throughout the pandemic, Governor Pritzker said, Illinoisans have shown a "willingness to look out for one another, and to rise above the loud minority of voices who have used this emergency to naysay, bicker, polarize and divide."
Pritzker's tone did come across as lecturing those parents that have been standing beside and behind their students that wanted to return to school sans masks.
"There are a whole lot more infections when districts are maskless," he said, not giving the scientific data to back up that statement. He said it is difficult to maintain social distancing in schools – so he wants to keep the school protocols going with masks, testing and vaccines.
It is Pritzker's hope that the state will be able to remove mask requirements in the next few weeks, but did not give a suggested date when that would happen.
Why the hesitation to lift the mandate in schools? One GOP gubernatorial candidate pointed to the teacher union effect:
HOW generous of Fatso!
He implies he “might” be able to lift his illegal mask mandate by February 28.
Why not NOW? What difference will three weeks make,
after over a year of this crap? Other states have done so already!
He must be feeling some real HEAT as elections are soon to come.
Governor what do you think about the Biden Admin handing out free crack pipes?
Notice they had the women speak forever in Spanish. Not Farsi, German, or Mandarin. Just shows what happens when millions of illegal know there are those who came here legally but that number pales to the illegals.
You think that’s bad I’m Greek and with my slight tan complexion many Spanish speakers assume I’m one of them just start speaking spanish to me automatically should see the look on their faces when I reply back in Greek!
Crack pipes work too! Should see the $10 prepacked marijuana chillums our dispensaries are selling which are then resold to high school and college kids for double/triple the price. I call Senate Pres Don Harmon’s office about it tells me secure measures are taken to ensure the marijuana not resold to underage children while all the kids are getting high.
All hail King Pritzker! Our Benevolent Lord and Defender of the Scientism!
Attention all parents against these mask mandates for school children. The Illinois mother in this video did her homework and discovered the million$$ federal financial incentives behind these mask mandates, that school districts are being given for masking your children even though the science is not there to support the mandates. It’s all about money.
https://brandnewtube.com/watch/illinois-mom-holds-vandalia-school-board-accountable-for-illegally-mandating-masks-for-money_rTEuEClifH5TfhP.html
The best one I read is:
“To believe a cheap paper mask will keep out a virus is to believe a chain-link fence will keep out mosquitos.”