CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Governor Pritzker’s new mask mandate for preschool through 12th grades is good news to a group of Chicago pediatricians.
“We are delighted and relieved on behalf of all the school children in Illinois,” said Dr. Allison Bartlett, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at Comer Children’s Hospital. “I think it’s absolutely the right thing to do to keep our children safe.”
Dr. Bartlett is part of the Chicagoland Children’s Health Alliance, which had been pushing for masks in schools.
Other pediatricians like Dr. Frank Belmonte, Chief Medical Officer at Advocate Children’s Hospital, weren’t surprised by the decision.
“It is consistent with the American Academy of Pediatrics’ recommendations, the CDC and the Illinois Department of Public Health,” he said.
Dr. Belmonte agrees the mask mandate is the best way to start the school year given the recent surge in COVID-19 cases.
“We had, in the last week, an 84 percent increase in COVID diagnoses across the country in children under the age of 18,” Belmonte said. “So, that's very concerning.”
Meantime, only 25 percent of U.S. children between the ages of 12 and 16 are vaccine compliant, meaning 75 percent who are eligible to get the vaccine have not received it yet.
Parents who are hesitant about giving their children the vaccine are encouraged to reach out to their own pediatrician.
“If you're confused, if you have questions, ask a trusted source," Belmonte said. “Talk to your physician, they're going to help you. We're here to help parents make those decisions.”
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