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COVID-19 has caused chaos and death globally in the past two years. As a result, politicians and government officials have debated on what would be the best way to push vaccine mandates region. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s mandate, which started on Jan. 3, 2022, outlines vaccination requirements needed to enter public places in Cook County. Moreover, the mayor hopes the vaccine mandate will encourage more people to get vaccinated.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) currently considers a person fully vaccinated two weeks after receiving a two-dose Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna mRNA series or the single-dose of the J&J Janssen vaccine.
“Gyms along with restaurants, bars and other businesses that serve food and drink now must ask for proof of vaccination against COVID-19 from customers over the age of 5.” Showing an ID that matches the vaccination card is also a requirement for those 16 and older. The mandate’s goal is to assure that everyone can enjoy activities of everyday living such as eating at restaurants and other public events safely while out in public.
“President Joe Biden said Tuesday the federal government is prepared to address the growing COVID-19 health crisis, adding at this point there are no excuses for being unvaccinated,” according to WBBM. There are currently enough vaccination doses to protect everyone in the United States.
Biden urges every American to be vaccinated to protect themselves and others. Everyone can get COVID, but it is doubtful that those vaccinated will die. The president says people who get Omicron and are not vaccinated will “die needlessly.”
In an attempt to emerge from this pandemic, Mayor Lightfoot’s mandate kicks off in Cook County. “So we’re taking these steps as a mitigation effort. And what we’re hearing from, particularly business people is that they want to create a safe environment and they’re grateful for us imposing this vaccination mandate in entertainment venues. So, restaurants, bars, gyms and the like,” according to Fox Business News.
Millions of people come out every year to one of the largest outdoor music festivals, Chicago’s Lollapalooza. There was a mandated vaccination requirement to attend the festival. People got vaccinated. Lightfoot reminds everyone that “we required vaccination in order to get inside of thetoza footprint and, on every single day [of the festival], we had 90-plus percent of the people in there with the vaccine. The answer to everything related to the virus and Omicron is vaccine, vaccine, vaccine.”
Mayor Lightfoot’s mandate kicked off in Cook County to start the New Year. The mandate has received skepticism and backlash from many. Chicago has a crisis right now, with nearly 30,000 new coronavirus cases daily. Health officials warn everyone to protect themselves by getting vaccinated, wearing a mask, keeping their hands clean, and practicing social distancing while out in public.
Written by Lionel Carter
Edited by Cathy Milne-Ware
Sources:
WBBM: Proof-of-vaccination mandate begins at indoor public spaces in Chicago and suburban Cook County; by Nancy Harty
Fox News: Chicago Mayor Lightfoot says businesses are ‘grateful’ for her vaccine mandate; by Andrew Mark Miller
WBBM: Biden says there is ‘no excuse’ to be unvaccinated; by Joe Hiti
Featured and Top Image Courtesy of Mia Battaglia’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
Insert Image Courtesy of Susan Smith’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License