ISU to require face coverings in all public indoor spaces

Posted on July 29, 2021
ISU issued the directive Wednesday as McLean County is currently designated as having “substantial” transmission by the CDC. (Facebook/Bone Student Center)

 

By Neil Doyle

NORMAL – In accordance with the new CDC guidance this week, Illinois State University will require face coverings in all public indoor spaces, even for people who are fully vaccinated.

ISU issued the directive Wednesday as McLean County is currently designated as having “substantial” transmission by the CDC.

“Vaccination is the best path forward,” said ISU President Terri Goss Kinzy, “As a biomedical scientist who, for decades, has studied aspects of the process underlying the new COVID vaccines, I support the scientific evidence that COVID vaccination is the most effective strategy to keeping our community healthy.”

The university will require people who are unvaccinated to participate in weekly on-campus saliva-based COVID-19 testing.

ISU is offering vaccine incentives as 100 students will have the chance to win a $1,000 scholarship and 75 students will get $100 in ‘flex dollars’ added to their Redbird card. Winners will be notified the week of Aug. 23.

Neil Doyle can be reached at [email protected]

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…