CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — All Chicago Public Schools students, teachers, and staff will be required to wear masks during the upcoming school year, regardless of vaccination status, the district announced Thursday.
Chicago Public Schools officials said the decision to require masks was based on feedback from local, state, and federal public health experts, along with the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Masks will be required at all times, except when people are eating and/or drinking or outdoors.
Visitors to school buildings will also be required to wear masks regardless of vaccination status.
Interim Chicago Public Schools Chief Executive Officer José Torres wrote in an email to families that the mask policy will protect students who are too young to get the COVID-19 vaccine at this time.
“Continuing to require masks will help make sure those in our school communities who are not yet eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine, which encompasses the majority of our students, remain as safe as possible," he wrote.
Additionally, CPS leaders said they will also work to maintain at least three feet of social distancing during the school day, and even have some students eat breakfast and lunch in their classrooms to prevent potential spread of the virus.
“Our goal is to keep all students healthy and safe while they learn in-person five days a week with their teachers and peers so they can receive the education and supports they need and deserve,” Torres wrote.
According to city data, about 47 percent of Chicago children aged 12 to 17 had received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine as of Wednesday. Just a little over a third of that age group is fully vaccinated, while about two-thirds of school-aged children are younger than 12 and not yet eligible for a shot.
Vaccination trials for children under 12 are still ongoing.
The district’s announcement comes as the nation, including Chicago and Illinois, is seeing a surge in COVID-19 infections due to the delta variant.
The variant, which originated in India, now accounts for an estimated 83 percent of coronavirus samples genetically identified in the U.S. The CDC said it is the predominant strain in every region of the country and is spreading with efficiency.
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Pediatricians recently said everyone older than 2 should wear a mask in schools, regardless of vaccination status. However, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said earlier this month fully vaccinated students, teachers and staff don’t need face coverings inside classrooms.
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The topic of face masks being worn in the upcoming school year has been controversial in many suburban districts. Numerous suburban districts have made mask usage voluntary.
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(WBBM Newsradio and The Associated Press contributed to this copy.)