Monday, for the first time since the pandemic began, students and staff in Chicago Public Schools will be able to choose whether to mask-up or not.
Chicago Public Schools say COVID numbers indicate it’s safe enough for students and staff to be inside school buildings without wearing masks. But the Chicago Teachers Union does not buy that. It also said going mask-optional breaks a legal agreement the school system has with the union. The union filed an unfair labor practices complaint. CPS had agreed to require masks in schools until the end of this academic year.
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The head of the school system, Pedro Martinez announced last week that COVID metrics favor the lowering of masks, although, at the same time, he said he is still encouraging mask wearing.
Currently, 95% of teachers are vaccinated, but only 57% of them are boosted, as well. The school system said roughly 30% of 5-to-11 year-olds and 56% of 12 to 17 year-olds are fully vaxxed.
According to the CDC COVID Tracker, Cook County’s rate of COVID transmission is listed as substantial, which is between high and moderate. The test positivity rate in the school system is less than 1%.
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