On Friday, October 22, Governor Pritzker announced that child care professionals in licensed day care centers will be required to receive the COVID-19 vaccination or be tested weekly starting December 3, 2021. According to State records, there are over 55,000 daycare center staff statewide
In the press release issued by the State on Friday, the Governor said: “By extending vaccine-or-test requirements to those who work at licensed day care centers, we are adding another level of protection for our youngest residents and preventing outbreaks in daycare centers as more and more parents return to work.” He also said that by enforcing a vaccine mandate on those who can receive the vaccine, we are helping to keep safe those who are too young to receive the vaccine.
The deadline for child care professionals to receive their first dose of the vaccine (or begin weekly testing) is Friday, December 3, and the deadline for the second dose of a two-dose COVID-19 vaccine series by January 3, 2022.
A masking requirement for all Pre-K-12 schools and childcare facilities, including indoor P-12 recreation, has been in effect in Illinois since August 4, 2021.
The Collaboration will share more information as it becomes available.