D26 Schools Will Require Students, Staff To Wear Masks

CARY, IL — Cary School District 26 students will be required to wear masks when they return to school in the coming weeks, school officials confirmed Tuesday.

On Monday, the District 26 school board voted on the requirement. Administrators had recommended schools "encourage," but not require, masks in the 2021-22 school year. But the school board disagreed with this recommendation and voted instead to require masking.

• Sign up for Crystal Lake-Cary Patch newsletters

The vote came a day before the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Illinois Department of Public Health updated recommendations regarding masks in schools. Health officials are now calling for universal indoor masking for all teachers, staff, students and visitors to schools regardless of vaccination status amid rising COVID-19 positivity rates and hospitalizations.

Masks will also be required on buses, according to D26 officials. The school district is still working out details on how lunch will be handled in its cafeteria, but implementing social distancing guidelines of 3 to 6 feet in between students is likely.

In addition, desk shields may be added to smaller classrooms, offices and tables; maintaining a distance of 3 to 6 feet in classrooms will be in place; and deep cleaning and disinfection will continue this year.

Playground equipment for recess will again be available, according to D26.

Remote learning will not be an option for most students, according to D26. Remote learning may only be an option for a student who is not vaccinated and needs to quarantine. In addition, some "medically fragile" students who have a medical certification form signed by their physician may be able to learn remotely.

Administrators are currently exploring COVID-19 testing options for students, which could including diagnostic testing for students and staff with symptoms and voluntary testing. The school district is also looking into whether they should set a timeline for a vote to potentially lift the mask mandate.

COVID-19 Positivity Rate In McHenry Co., Delta Variant

The COVID-19 positivity rate and hospitalizations have been on the rise again in McHenry County and across the United States. Over the past seven days, the number of cases increased by 67 percent, according to the CDC data tracker, which looks at the level of community transmission.

Currently, the level of community transmission, as determined by the CDC, is at the substantial level, with 51.99 confirmed cases in McHenry County per 100,000 people. Areas of substantial transmission are considered by CDC to be those with 50 to 99 cases per 100,000 people over a 7-day period. Areas of high transmission are considered to be those with more than 100 cases per 100,000 people.

Amid the uptick in cases, schools are grappling with requirements for in-person learning as the delta variant continues to spread across the country, mainly among unvaccinated individuals. Health officials say data has shown the delta variant spreads twice as easily from one person to another compared to other strains.

In addition, it has more rarely been infecting vaccinated people though "breakthrough infections," which usually produce milder symptoms.

“While data continues to show the effectiveness of the three COVID-19 vaccines currently authorized in the U.S., including against the delta variant, we are still seeing the virus rapidly spread among the unvaccinated,” IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike said this past week. “Cases and hospitalizations due to COVID-19 both continue to increase, overwhelmingly among the unvaccinated, but the risk is greater for everyone if we do not stop the ongoing spread of the virus and the delta variant. We know masking can help prevent transmission of COVID-19 and its variants. Until more people are vaccinated, we join CDC in recommending everyone, regardless of vaccination status, wear a mask indoors in areas of substantial and high transmissions, and in K-12 schools.”

Meanwhile, most elementary school aged children are not yet eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine and may not be for a while. Vaccines are currently only available for children 12 years and older. Pfizer officials have said they are hoping to seek emergency authorization this fall for ages 2 to 11 years old.

On Wednesday, the Illinois Federation of Teachers and Cook County Department of Public Health announced Wednesday its endorsement of guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Illinois Department of Public Health calling for universal masking in schools, regardless of vaccination status.

"We believe this guidance is in the best interest of students, teachers, and staff in order to keep our school buildings open," IFT President Dan Montgomery said in a statement. "With the delta variant surging and case numbers in Illinois rising sharply, it is good policy to ensure the greatest possible level of safety for those who learn and work in our schools.

The union is also urging all Illinois school districts to "employ a layered safety approach," including physical distancing, regular handwashing, adequate building ventilation, and consistent COVID testing of students and educators.

MORE ON PATCH

• Lake Co. Health Officials Urge Caution As COVID-19 Cases Rise
• Universal Masking Backed By IL Teachers Union, Cook County
• Vaccinating Kids 12 & Up: Most Illinois Patch Readers Say Yes
• IL Parents: Will You Get Your Young Teens, Children Vaccinated?