Masks Required For Unvaccinated This Fall In Wheeling District 21

WHEELING, IL — With an uptick in coronavirus cases in recent weeks, some local school districts are rethinking plans to return to a pre-pandemic existence this fall. Following a vote by its board of education Thursday night, the Wheeling Community Consolidated School District 21 is requiring all unvaccinated staff and students to wear masks when school starts. All employees, with a few exceptions, will also be required to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

The district said the decision is due in part to the emergence of the delta variant, "spreading at 225 percent of the original COVID-19 strain," according to the news release. As vaccinations in Illinois are only available to people 12 and up, most of the students in the district are not vaccinated at this time.

The vote, which was unanimous, followed eight parents speaking out against a mask requirement and four parents speaking in favor of it, reports Daily Herald.

On Friday, the Cook County Department of Public Health released a "strong recommendation" that all schools implement the layered mitigation strategies to prevent COVID-19 transmission that have been recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in its Guidance for K-12 Schools and adopted by the Illinois Department of Public Health. The CCDPH also fully endorses the CDC recommendations, according to a news release.

Among the recommendations from the CCDPH are that all eligible students and staff should be encouraged to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Also, the CCDPH said masks should be worn by all unvaccinated individuals aged 2 years and older while indoors.

CCDPH officials noted, "the use of 'should' in the guidance does not imply that a strategy is optional," according to the news release.

In response to mask use, District 21 is following these guidelines:

• Vaccinated students whose vaccination card is on file do not need to wear a mask within the school building. Families may continue to submit their child’s completed vaccination card by emailing a photo or copy to the district.
• All unvaccinated individuals, including students, are required to wear masks within the school.
• Per federal direction all individuals, regardless of vaccine status, are required to wear masks on school buses

In accordance with CDC and IDPH recommendations, District 21 schools will continue to adhere
to the 3-foot social distancing standard wherever possible, according to the news release. This is inclusive of classrooms, cafeteria spaces, gymnasiums, libraries, and other common areas.

District 21 will continue to test unvaccinated students on a weekly basis using the SHIELD Illinois
Saliva PCR Testing program until at least Dec. 31, or additional guidance from the CDC or the IDPH indicates it is appropriate to end COVID screening testing programs.