SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Gov. J-B Pritzker is urging all Illinois residents to wear masks due to a rise in cases of the delta variant of COVID-19.
Speaking Monday during an unrelated a news conference, Pritzker said the variant is likely to be the dominant strain of the virus over the next few months.
“We expect it to dominate our cases statewide by the fall,” Pritzker said.
The governor also encouraged everyone who hasn’t been vaccinated against COVID-19 yet to do so.
“The lessons here at home and across the world are a harbinger of what could happen here, particularly in low vaccinated areas, if we don’t see a higher uptake of the vaccine across Illinois,” Pritzker said. “This is very real. I implore all residents, if you have friends and family on the fence, share with them the life-saving benefits of these free vaccines and encourage them to remain masked until they are fully vaccinated.”
Last week, the World Health Organization said the delta variant, first seen in India, is “the most transmissible of the variants identified so far.”
As of Sunday, the Illinois Department of Public Health had identified 84 cases of the delta variant in the state.
In order to help limit the spread of the virus, Gov. Pritzker is encouraging residents to wear a mask.
“I would say from my own perspective if you’re going into a heavily crowded area, you don’t know if somebody is not vaccinated and so you should just bring your mask with you and keep safe,” Pritzker said.
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