Contributed photo | www.cityofchicago.org
Contributed photo | www.cityofchicago.org
3rd Ward Virtual Town Hall Meeting, CPS Mask Optional, 2nd District Police Alerts, Fuller Park COVID-19 Vaccines
In This Issue:
- 3rd Ward Virtual Town Hall Meeting
- CPS Mask-Optional Starting March 14th
- 2nd District Police Alert - Robberies
- 2nd District Police Alert - Robberies
- Citywide Community Safety Town Halls
- Fuller Park COVID-19 Vaccine Event
- CPS Facilities Team Hiring
- Red Line Extension Route to Procurement Event
- Lakeside Alliance Building for Growth Lunch and Learn
- Lakeside Alliance Trucking Jobs
CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS ANNOUNCES MOVE TO MASK-OPTIONAL MODEL BEGINNING MARCH 14
Chicago Public Schools (CPS) will move to a mask-optional model for staff and all students, pre-k through grade 12, beginning Monday, March 14. While CPS will continue to encourage the use of masks, the shift will give families and employees a choice about whether or not to wear a mask at school, outside on school property, and on school buses.
The number of COVID-19 cases in schools and throughout the city of Chicago has declined sharply over the past several weeks, while at the same time, vaccination rates among CPS students and staff are continuing to rise, and voluntary testing has dramatically increased in schools. Vaccination rates to date:
- CPS COVID-19 vaccination rates are now near the national average for 12-17 year-old students (64 percent of CPS students age 12-17 have had at least a first dose, compared to 68 percent nationally).
- Rates are well above the national average for 5-11 year-old students (47 percent of CPS students age 5-11 have had at least a first dose, compared to 33 percent nationally).
- Overall, 56 percent of age-eligible CPS students have received at least one dose, and nearly half (49 percent) are fully vaccinated.
- More than 91 percent of all CPS staff members are fully vaccinated.
Chicago is at low risk for COVID-19 by every metric, including the historic and current metrics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The city’s case counts and positivity are the lowest they have been since July 2021 and continue to fall. Chicago is now averaging just 191 cases of COVID-19 per day, among an average of more than 27,000 daily tests performed, giving a positivity rate of just 0.8%. CPS’ screening test positivity rate is dramatically lower than the city’s, at 0.14 percent.
CPS will continue to encourage the practice of wearing masks in schools, especially in schools with lower vaccination rates and among those students and staff who feel most comfortable with a face covering. The District will also support those members of its school communities who choose not to wear a mask, and will provide tools that teachers and parents can use to guide conversations with students about the importance of honoring and respecting everyone’s personal choice.
The District will continue many of its COVID-19 safety mitigation measures including voluntary on-site testing, contact tracing, and proper hand hygiene. CPS will share more information with families and staff before Monday, March 14 around how this change will impact the District’s various health and safety protocols.
Alerts Sign-up