Prairie State Wire

Unvaccinated students who are considered close contacts for those with COVID-19 are being ordered to mask for 10 days after contact or quarantine at home.

Under guidance for an “asymptomatic individual who is a close contact to a confirmed or probable COVID-19 case” the Illinois State Board of Education notes masking or quarantining are the only options.

“For those that can mask upon return, quarantine for five days after last exposure to the COVID-19 case and upon return, mask consistently through day 10, or according to test-to-stay protocols. If unable to mask, quarantine for 10 days,” latest ISBE guidance reads via the so-called "decision tree." 

 

One Twitter user noted the guidelines were for unbolted students.

“Illinois just released school guidance for the fall of 2022 that if a child is not up to date on all boosters then they need to quarantine for 10 days - without online learning - for every 'close contact,’” the tweet reads.

Jackie Matthews, Executive Director of Communications, Illinois State Board of Education, refuted the tweet.

“No, this is not true.

"Asymptomatic close contacts are advised to quarantine for five days and then return to school and mask for five days. Alternatively, they can stay in school the entire time and participate in Test to Stay. Students who are up to date in their vaccinations are not considered close contacts at all. Remote learning must continue to be provided to any student excluded from school.

"Please review the guidance for evaluating symptomatic individuals and close contacts here.

Our goal continues to be to have as many students as possible learning in schools, while protecting health and safety. While we can’t predict what the school year will bring, we remain focused on supporting students’ recovery, both academically and with their mental health.

"We distributed the updated public health guidance to all schools and school districts on July 5. School districts are strongly encouraged to follow the guidance; the only requirement, however, continues to be that all school personnel must be vaccinated or tested for COVID-19 at least weekly.”  

Mandatory vaccines, masking and quarantining was overruled by Sangamon County Judge Raylene Grischow. However, such protocols can be decided by local health authorities and school districts. Masking has also been noted as a form of quarantine that cannot be applied to board sections of the population but must be mandated on a one-by-one basis.

Despite a lack of evidence that masking improves outcomes for COVID transmission rates and the fact that schoolchildren are a low-risk population, many states have long ago removed masking regulations.

Illinois is an outlier in COVID protcols as the fall return to school approaches.