By Blake Haas
NORMAL – While colleges and universities in the Twin-Cities begin some in-person instruction next week, Normal’s top elected official says he’s commending leaders of the town’s schools who are working around the clock to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Mayor Chris Koos added that he supports the approaches taken by Illinois State University and Heartland Community College during the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic. One of the measures he commends is a new Coronavirus campaign that will launch next week.
“Were working together to get on top of this. We’ll start next week a pretty strong media campaign, a public relations campaign if you will to get people used to the idea that wears the mask, wash your hands, (and) keep your distance.”
During a stop in Bloomington on Thursday, Governor Pritzker said while in-person learning remains a fluid situation, he’s relying on local officials to help if an outbreak does occur.
“If we have to step in certain situations where there’s an overwhelming number or a large number of kids and adults by the way who are testing positive for COVID-19, and we need to do something with the local school, were going to work on that. It’s especially incumbent upon the local health departments to help us with that.
“I’m worried about communities in Illinois that are choosing to just ignore the mandatory mask order or to fight against masks in schools because we have to do this folk. This could be the most important thing we do to bring down the spread of COVID-19 across the state.”
Around 80% of fall courses at ISU are being offered online.
Blake Haas can be reached at [email protected].
