HERMITAGE – The Buhl Regional Health Foundation continues to focus on COVID-19 while also sticking to its mission to provide community outreach and support in the form of education, grants, vaccine clinics and more.

“You had COVID overwhelming you,” Jennifer Barborak said of when she took over as executive director in September 2020.

She described the virus as a “beast” with information and protocols constantly changing.

The foundation has done a lot of behind-the-scenes work to make sure local residents and organizations have access to the most up-to-date resources.

That has included Facebook videos and radio talks often led by board member Dr. George Garrow, who is also chief medical officer of Sharon’s Primary Health Network.

Reaching as many people as possible is important, and the remote options have been valuable tools, Barborak said.

They had to “beef up” the foundation’s website and increase efforts to develop a network of resources for those who need assistance with services like food, childcare and transportation.

Some residents in quarantine have never needed that kind of assistance, and they are able to turn to the foundation for guidance, she said.

And she reminds people that the Hermitage-based foundation serves more than just the Shenango Valley.

Its secondary service area covers other parts of Mercer County plus some of Lawrence County and parts of Ohio.

Jennifer Barborak took over as executive director of the Buhl Regional Health Foundation in September 2020 after the retirement of Mickey Gula, who had led the foundation since its inception in 2012. Barborak’s background includes grant writing for other foundations, nursing, and extensive volunteerism with the Shenango River Watchers and WaterFire Sharon.

TANNER MONDOK | Herald

Another significant need right now is supporting women’s health, Barborak said.

Locally, birth weights are low, fewer women are getting mammograms and obesity rates among females are high.

The foundation has collaborated with UPMC Horizon to offer free mammogram clinics and bring a birth simulator to the Farrell hospital.

Nonprofits can apply for grants from the foundation, which also has a scholarship program for students pursuing careers in healthcare.

The foundation has given nearly $2.8 million in grants since 2017, and $29,000 in scholarships.

The foundation was created from the millions of dollars of proceeds of the sale of the nonprofit Sharon Regional Health System to a for-profit company.

The foundation works with local agencies to brainstorm on how they can all come together for the betterment of the community.

“We hope to start to see a difference, like more mammogram events,” Barborak said, adding that preventative care plays a big role.

And the foundation is spreading positivity in other ways to boost people’s spirits during this challenging time.

It recently launched a “Front Line Heroes” program for individuals who have gone above and beyond during the pandemic.

Garrow, who is part of the foundation’s COVID team, suggested the idea after someone gave him a gift card for being a pleasant and kind customer at a local business.

The foundation received more than 100 nominations in just a few weeks. Three names are randomly selected each week, and the recipients are rewarded with a gift card for a local restaurant.

The program runs through June 30, and nominees do not have to be healthcare workers.

Mercer County Chief Clerk Ann Morrison and Mercer County Commissioner Tim McGonigle at the Mercer County Courthouse. McGonigle nominated Morrison for the Buhl Regional Health Foundation’s “Front Line Heroes” honor for all Morrison did to get the county government through the pandemic as well as helping with business and organization grant and relief programs.

TANNER MONDOK | Herald

One of the names selected was Ann Morrison, chief clerk for Mercer County, who was nominated by Tim McGonigle, one of the three Mercer County commissioners.

Morrison has helped keep the county open during the pandemic by taking the lead on grant applications and other financial resources for local businesses and organizations, helping schedule vaccine appointments for county employees, and organizing proper disinfecting and personal protection gear for the county facilities.

“Ann was our backbone,” McGonigle said.

Mercer Country chief clerk Ann Morrison receives a “Front Line Heroes” award for her acts of service displayed throughout the pandemic.

Morrison said she is honored and humbled to be recognized for helping others. Dealing with COVID-19 has been a challenge with a lot of learning as you go, and she’s thankful to have the support of the commissioners, her co-workers and her husband Lars.

Morrison truly went above and beyond and set a great example for those around her, said Krystle MacLean and Joanie Micsky, administrative assistants.

“It was very labor intensive. We did everything ourselves from a blank sheet of paper,” Morrison said of the grant applications.

Other “Front Line Heroes” can include first responders, truck drivers or grocery store workers, Barborak said.

Nominations can be sent via the foundation’s website.

Those who follow the foundation can also be on the lookout for more information about topics like mental health, COVID complications and treatments, at-home COVID tests and mammogram clinics.

For more information about the Buhl Regional Health Foundation, visit its Facebook page or website at buhlregionalhealthfoundation.org or call 878-202-4149.

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Originally Appeared Here

The latest supplemental paid sick leave requirements should be familiar to employers with a few notable differences.

After two tumultuous years reacting to COVID-19 in the workplace, the one constant has been change. In recent months, the state of California has changed course on several workplace requirements, leaving businesses, schools and organizations scrambling to keep up. While the differences from past requirements lie in the details, the landscape is a familiar one: masks, paid sick leave and another iteration of the Cal/OSHA Emergency Temporary Standards (ETS).

California Lifts Statewide Mask Mandate

California imposed a statewide mask mandate on December 15, 2021, initially for 30 days and later extended for another 30 to February 15, 2022. On February 7, 2022, Governor Gavin Newsom announced that the statewide mask mandate would not extend beyond February 15. While businesses will no longer be required to mandate masks, they are permitted to do so if they choose. In recent days, numerous counties announced similar lifting of mask mandates.

This recent announcement does not mean the end of mask requirements going forward. Select workplace environments and industries including hospitals, K-12 schools, nursing homes, mass transit (including airports) and others subject to existing but separate mask mandates must continue to follow those face covering requirements. Additionally, businesses in counties that have not lifted mask mandates, such as Santa Clara County, must continue to require masks. Finally, as discussed more thoroughly below, the Cal/OSHA ETS remain in effect, requiring unvaccinated employees continue to wear masks in the workplace and dictating what constitutes acceptable face coverings.

California Passes New Supplemental Paid Sick Leave Law – Retroactive but More Limited

Previously, California has twice provided for supplemental paid sick leave for COVID-19-related reasons that an employee must exhaust first before they can be required to use their own paid sick leave, PTO and vacation balances. The original legislation provided for paid sick leave through the end of 2020, while a second law extended the requirements through September 30, 2021. After the last supplemental paid sick leave law expired, employers were left wondering what would follow. Employers finally received their answer in the form of a new supplemental paid sick leave law, signed on February 9, 2022, which requires employers with more than 25 employees to provide additional paid sick leave for certain COVID-19-related reasons. The latest supplemental paid sick leave requirements should be familiar to employers with a few notable differences.

Covered Reasons and Length of Leave

The basis for the leave in the new legislation is largely the same as in prior iterations. As before, leave is unavailable for employees who are able to work or telework. The reasons for taking the leave are the same seven reasons relating to COVID-19 symptoms, quarantine, isolation, vaccinations and caring for others for specified COVID-19 reasons. However, the most significant difference between the new law and the old one is the amount of leave available, which depends on the reason for the need for leave:

• For employees subject to a quarantine or isolation order issued by the state or local health official; or who have been advised by a healthcare provider to quarantine or isolate due to COVID-19; or who are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 and seeking a diagnosis; or are caring for a family member who is subject to a quarantine or isolation order; or who have a child in school or day care that is closed or unavailable due to COVID-19-related reasons, up to 40 hours of supplemental paid sick leave is available.
• For employees attending an appointment to get a vaccine or booster shot, or who are taking a family member to such an appointment, up to three days (i.e., 24 hours) for each shot is available and includes the time spent actually getting the shot. This limit does not apply if the employee has symptoms of COVID-19.
• For employees who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 or are caring for a family member who has been diagnosed with COVID-19 (with proof to the employer), up to 40 hours of paid sick leave is available. However, employees who also qualify for leave based on another reason may not be limited to a total of 40 hours of leave.

For those employees diagnosed with COVID-19 or are caring for a family member diagnosed with COVID-19, the new law allows employers to require proof. Further, employers may require employees diagnosed with COVID-19 to submit to a diagnostic test made available by the employer at no cost on or after the fifth day after an initial positive test and to provide documentation of those results as that may permit a return to work.

Supplemental paid sick leave is paid at an employee’s regular rate of pay. Formulas are available to calculate the regular rate for employees who work irregular or variable-rate schedules and who work on commission.

The leave is retroactive to January 1, 2022, if employees who qualified but did not receive paid leave since the beginning of the year request it verbally or in writing.

As with prior supplemental paid sick leave laws, the full amount of leave is available for full-time employees who regularly work 40 hours per week. Employees who work part time, or who work irregular schedules, are eligible for a prorated amount of leave.

Supplemental paid sick leave is currently available through September 30, 2022.

Revised Cal/OSHA Emergency Temporary Standards Remain In Effect

The new supplemental paid sick leave follows changes to the Cal/OSHA ETS, which took effect January 14, 2022, a day after the Supreme Court of the United States blocked the Emergency Temporary Standards issued by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The California revised ETS modified existing obligations imposed on California employers of all sizes in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and ensures that such restrictions will continue for at least another six months.

Background of the Cal/OSHA ETS

First Cal/OSHA ETS: On November 18, 2020, Cal/OSHA issued Emergency Temporary Standards to clarify employer obligations during the COVID-19 pandemic and to prevent outbreaks at workplaces in California. The initial ETS applied to all California employers and employees with limited exceptions. It required employers to create and implement a written, site-specific COVID-19 prevention program and mandated mask-wearing, social distancing, providing face coverings and other personal protective equipment, implementing cleaning and disinfecting procedures, training employees and addressing building ventilation standards and other engineering and administrative controls. It also required that employers take specific actions upon learning of positive cases in the workplace and set forth investigation, notification and testing requirements. See our previous Alert.

Second Cal/OSHA ETS: On June 3, 2021, Cal/OSHA adopted controversial new standards relating to masking and testing of fully vaccinated employees that were withdrawn six days later following public outcry. Two weeks later, on June 17, 2021, the agency voted again and adopted new Emergency Temporary Standards. Those standards updated the initial ETS, continuing indoor and outdoor workplace mandates for the unvaccinated and site-specific COVID-19 prevention programs, discontinuing most physical distancing requirements, modifying training, disinfecting and personal protective equipment protocols and updating requirements for investigating and responding to COVID-19 in the workplace. See our previous Alert.

Third Cal/OSHA ETS: On December 14, 2021, Cal/OSHA issued another iteration of the ETS, effective January 14, 2022, further modifying the COVID-19 standards. This iteration of ETS rolls back some of the changes in the June 2021 ETS and clarifies requirements regarding safety protocols such as testing and face coverings as discussed below.

Continuation of and Modifications of Previous Standards

As with previous iterations of the ETS, the latest ETS from December 2021 require employers to create a written, site-specific COVID-19 prevention program addressing the same detailed topics in the original ETS. Employers must continue to conduct regular training of employees and inspect health hazards, provide notices to employees of workplace exposures within prescribed periods of time, provide N95 respirators to employees upon request and quarantine certain exposed employees. The key changes to the ETS involve face coverings and return-to-work criteria.

More Stringent Face Covering Requirements

The latest ETS reiterate that employers must abide by any applicable state or local mask mandates. As discussed above, most of these have since been lifted. The standards specify that acceptable face coverings are limited to surgical masks, medical procedure masks, respirators worn voluntarily or tightly woven fabric or nonwoven material of at least two layers. Face coverings may not have visible holes or openings and must cover the nose and mouth. Scarves, ski masks, balaclavas, bandanas, turtlenecks, collars, gaiters or face coverings made of a single layer of fabric are not acceptable.

Current Return-to-Work Criteria

Previous ETS provided criteria for returning to work for COVID-19 cases. However, the latest return-to-work criteria have been overridden by California Department of Public Health (CDPH) isolation or quarantine recommendations pursuant to Executive Order N-84-20 issued by Governor Newsom. That executive order provides that employer may follow CDPH designated periods if they are shorter than those recommended by the ETS.

These are the latest return-to-work criteria for employees in California:

Employees who test positive for COVID-19 may return to work as follows:

• Asymptomatic employees may take a test on the fifth day after their initial positive test.
  • If the test is negative, the employee may return to work, but must wear a well-fitting mask around others and socially distance for the next five days.
  • If the employee tests positive or does not take a test at all, the employee must stay out until 10 days have passed since the positive test.
• Symptomatic employees may return to work after all of the following are true:
  • At least 10 days have passed since symptoms first appeared;
  • At least 24 hours have passed with no fever without fever-reducing medication; and
  • Other symptoms of COVID-19 are resolving.

Employees who are exposed to a COVID-19 case may return to work as follows:

• Those who are boosted or vaccinated but not yet booster eligible:
  • May return to work without having to quarantine;
  • Should wear a well-fitting mask around others for 10 days, especially in indoor settings; but
  • If they test positive or develop symptoms, they must follow the guidance above for those who test positive.
• Those are who are unvaccinated or who are vaccinated and booster-eligible but have not yet received their booster dose:
  • Must quarantine;
  • May return to work
    • After staying home for at least five days after contact with a person who has COVID-19;
    • After testing negative on the fifth day; and
    • After not having symptoms after the fifth day.
  • Must wear a well-fitting mask around others for a period of 10 days, especially in indoor settings; but
  • If they test positive or develop symptoms, they must follow the guidance above for those who test positive.

Local governments may enact more restrictive return-to-work criteria. Therefore, employers in counties that have passed their own health orders and return-to-work criteria should ensure that both are followed. The more protective standard generally prevails.

Notices to Employees

The current ETS in effect modified notice requirements to require specific notices for close-contact employees, along with safety information about steps to take following a close contact. These ETS also confirm that locations where employees work alone, or employees who work from home, are not in “workplaces” for purposes of these notices, and therefore such employees do not need to receive such notice.

Definition of “Fully Vaccinated”

The latest ETS confirm that an employee is fully vaccinated two weeks after completing primary vaccination with a COVID-19 vaccine that is: (1) approved or authorized for emergency use by the FDA; (2) listed for emergency use by the World Health Organization; or (3) administered as part of a clinical trial. Booster shots are not expressly addressed in the ETS.

Testing of Fully Vaccinated Employees

Through the earlier June 2021 ETS, Cal/OSHA rolled back the obligation for employers to offer weekly or twice-weekly testing during paid work time to fully vaccinated employees who were part of any exposed group during an outbreak. The latest ETS reinstated this requirement, and all employees, regardless of vaccination status, must be offered such testing. Further, under separate guidance, employers must cover the cost of all tests and either provide, pay for or reimburse mileage for transportation to any off-site vaccination.

Rapid Testing Must Be Observed

Finally, the latest ETS permit employers to use rapid testing for employees when testing is required so long as the tests are observed by either the employer or a telehealth provider hired by or contracted with the employer.

Beware of “Enterprise-wide” and “Egregious” Cal/OSHA Violations

Following the Cal/OSHA ETS is particularly important in light of the California Legislature’s January enactment of two new categories of violations in Senate Bill 606: “enterprise-wide” and “egregious,” giving rise to potential penalties.

Egregious Violations

An egregious violation is one in which one or more of the following is true:

• The employer intentionally, through conscious, voluntary action or inaction, made no reasonable effort to eliminate a known violation;
• Violations resulted in worker fatalities, three or more hospitalizations or a large number of injuries or illnesses;
• Violations resulted in persistently high rates of worker injuries or illnesses;
• An employer has an extensive history of prior violations;
• An employer has intentionally disregarded its health and safety responsibilities;
• An employer’s conduct amounts to clear bad faith in the performance of its duties; or
• An employer has committed a large number of violations so as to undermine significantly the effectiveness of any safety and health program that may be in place.

Employers who have high rates of COVID-19 cases across multiple worksites, or who have previously been in violation of the ETS, may end up in the crosshairs of Cal/OSHA and face an “egregious” violation. Moreover, SB 606 provides for a five-year lookback for enterprise-wide violations.

Enterprise-wide Violations

If an employer has multiple worksites and either of the following is true, there will be a rebuttable presumption that a violation is “enterprise-wide”:

• The employer’s written policy or procedure violates Cal/OSHA regulations; or
• Cal/OSHA has evidence of a pattern or practice of the same violation committed by the employer at one or more of its worksites.

If an employer fails to rebut the presumption, Cal/OSHA may issue an enterprise-wide citation requiring enterprise-wide abatement, and may issue monetary penalties up to a maximum of $124,709 per violation.

What This Means for Employers

Following a period of relative calm, changes to COVID-19 workplace rules are resurgent. For some employers, depending on industry and local regulations, mask mandates are no longer required as of February 16, 2022. However, all employers with 26 or more employees must once again provide paid sick leave to eligible employees for COVID-19-related reasons, though on a more limited basis than in the past. All employers are subject to Cal/OSHA standards, which continue to evolve as the COVID-19 pandemic slowly transitions to endemic. Employers with employees in California are encouraged to stay abreast of changes and update policies, practices and notifications as needed. Further, employers are encouraged to review policies and practices across work sites to ensure that effective infection control protocols are in place, to avoid outbreaks and to promote consistency.

About Duane Morris

Duane Morris has created a COVID-19 Strategy Team to help employers plan, respond to and address this fast-moving situation. Contact your Duane Morris attorney for more information. Prior Alerts on the topic are available on the team’s webpage.

For More Information

If you have any questions about this Alert, please contact Lori Ocheltree, Brooke B. Tabshouri, any of the attorneys in our Employment, Labor, Benefits and Immigration Practice Group, any member of the COVID-19 Strategy Team or the attorney in the firm with whom you are regularly in contact.

Disclaimer: This Alert has been prepared and published for informational purposes only and is not offered, nor should be construed, as legal advice. For more information, please see the firm’s full disclaimer.

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Originally Appeared Here

This electron microscope photo provided by the National Institute of Infectious Diseases shows the coronavirus isolated at the facility. (Photo Courtesy of the National Institute of Infectious Diseases)

OSAKA — There were more than 430,000 people recovering from the coronavirus at home as of Feb. 2, amid Japan’s sixth infection wave. One 68-year-old woman in the city of Osaka who contracted the virus tried to contact her local public health center about her condition for days, but without success. And then her daughters and grandchildren living with her also developed fevers.

Through this woman’s case, the Mainichi Shimbun reflected on what we can do if we end up in the same position, which could happen to any of us anytime.

It was Jan. 21. The highly infectious omicron variant was raging across Japan. The woman felt a sudden chill, and that something wasn’t right with her body. She took her temperature; 39.5 degrees Celsius. She endured a restless night. An antigen test at a hospital the next day confirmed she had COVID-19. To prevent severe symptoms, she was prescribed an antibody cocktail and told to go home and wait for the local public health center to get in touch.

But the call didn’t come. She lives with four people: two daughters and two grandchildren. The family took turns calling the public health center countless times, but couldn’t get through — perhaps because it was swamped in responding to other cases. They tried a special hotline for people recovering at home in Osaka Prefecture, too, but were told that “we cannot respond if your case hasn’t been dealt with by the public health center.”

The woman has renal failure and needs periodic dialysis, which she gets at her local clinic three times a week. While she worried over whether she could get the treatment as usual, her 33-year-old daughter developed a fever. They contacted a hospital, but were told they don’t see close-contact patients, and that they should follow public health center instructions.

The older woman’s fever finally broke four days later, and she returned to health. But she had still heard nothing from the public health center. She approached her regular doctor, who listened to her circumstances. The woman said she was relieved when they made a special allowance for her to get dialysis at the clinic.

Meanwhile, the virus spread through her household. Her 30-year-old daughter, and her 33-year-old daughter’s one-month-old baby both tested positive. No one could leave the house, and relatives had to help by dropping groceries off outside.

They carefully observed infection prevention measures at home, too. Even inside, the family wore masks and diligently ventilated the rooms. But they couldn’t split people into different living spaces. Although a four-story property, there is only living space on the top three — the first is an office for a business.

“Our space on each floor is pretty small, and it was hard to completely distance from each other. I didn’t think it would be so infectious,” the woman said.

The public health center got in touch on Jan. 28, a week after her symptoms developed. She was told over the phone that she would be able to go outside again in four days. “Perhaps the public health center was really busy, but couldn’t they have contacted me a little sooner?” she said.

“When my children and grandchild were getting fevers, I really didn’t know what to do and was thinking, what will happen to my family? We were helped by our relatives and our doctor, but I think if we hadn’t had people to support us it would’ve been really tough. I want the national and municipal governments to work out a plan to improve this situation,” she said.

Osaka City Hall is seen in the city’s Kita Ward on March 18, 2019. (Mainichi/Yukiko Hayashi)

The city of Osaka public health center commented on her case, “We look at reports from hospitals and prioritize contacting people with preexisting conditions. We do not know of any particular reason why contact was delayed in this instance.”

***

Points to keep in mind when recovering at home with the coronavirus:

Separate the rooms that family members use

Infected people and other residents should wear masks as much as possible

Observe thorough handwashing and ventilation

Disinfect places that are often touched by multiple residents

Keep trash tightly closed when throwing it out

Take appropriate exercise including stretching

*Advice based on documents issued by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and others

(Japanese original by Sachiko Miyakawa, Osaka City News Department)

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Originally Appeared Here

Area school districts where masks are no longer required: 33. Area districts where they’re still a must: 8.

The latest districts to temporarily switch from required to recommended: Bement and Westville, effective Friday, and Rantoul’s two districts, starting Monday.

Bement became the fourth of four Piatt County districts where masks are no longer a must but are recommended.

Update to COVID Procedures https://t.co/sG1mIJ1ugB pic.twitter.com/koCxCnaLnT

— Westville Schools (@gowestville) February 10, 2022

“We are hopeful that everyone can respect others’ opinions on this and not shame, bully or ridicule those who choose to mask or not to mask,” Bement Interim Superintendent Sheila Greenwood said. “We are also hopeful that the needs of certain individuals will be respected — for example, if a student or staff member has someone living in the home that is elderly, sick, undergoing treatments, etc. (and) may need that extra layer of protection.”

The language district leaders used to describe the change has varied — “suspended enforcement of a mask mandate,” “highly recommended,” “recommended but not required” — but the immediate effect is the same.

Districts began taking action as soon as last Saturday, the day after a Sangamon County circuit judge’s ruling that temporarily voided state-mandated rules for schools on masking and quarantining, among others. The order is being appealed, with a ruling expected soon.

The full list of area districts that have relaxed restrictions (more detail below): ALAH, Arcola, Bement, Bismarck-Henning, Blue Ridge, Cerro Gordo, Chrisman, Cissna Park, DeLand-Weldon, Fisher, Georgetown-Ridge Farm, Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley, Gifford, Heritage, Hoopeston Area, Iroquois County, Mahomet-Seymour, Milford, Monticello, Oakland, Oakwood, PBL, Prairieview-Ogden, Rantoul City Schools, Rantoul High, Salt Fork, Shiloh, St. Joseph-Ogden, St. Joseph Grade School, Sullivan, Tuscola, Unity and Westville.

Several students told me today that this was their best day of school in 2 years. There was a noticeable buzz and excitement to be at school today. 140+ kids have never experienced “normal” high school.
So much is gained in non-verbal communication.

— Mr. Steve Fiscus (@MrFiscus_TCHS) February 8, 2022

Here’s an overview of where area districts stand as of now:

ARCOLA

Arcola’s school board voted to make masks optional at its meeting Wednesday night.

“Our ultimate goal is still to create a safe learning environment where all students can be successful,” Superintendent Tom Mulligan said. “I want to be very clear that we are still planning to implement many of the mitigation strategies that have been in place since the beginning of the school year with a few exceptions.”

Here’s what’s new and what’s not, from Mulligan’s letter to families:

1. “One big change is obviously related to masking. Masking is now recommended but not required for individuals. Although, masking is still required on school buses due to federal law.”

2. “The second big change is that the district will no longer be excluding close contacts from school. If a close contact is identified at school, the families and staff members will be notified but those individuals will not be excluded from school unless they are symptomatic.

3. “All other mitigation strategies remain in place. The first 12 mitigation strategies (listed on the button of page 2) are still in place. In other words …

• If students have covid symptoms, they will still need a negative test or alternative diagnosis to remain in school.
• If there is a confirmed positive, the individual will be excluded for 5 days from school.
• We still recommend 3 to 6 feet of social distance as much as possible.
• We will still keep students 3 feet apart at lunchtime.

ARMSTRONG-ELLIS, ARMSTRONG HIGH

“We are waiting on the ruling by the court before we announce anything,” Superintendent Bill Mulvaney told The News-Gazette Thursday afternoon.

ARTHUR LOVINGTON ATWOOD HAMMOND

Masks are recommended but not required, Superintendent Shannon Cheek told The News-Gazette Sunday, adding: “If you read the opinion of the judge in the case, it’s very confusing and not surprising that many different interpretations of that opinion are being formed.”

First-grader Elias Tieman gives Bement’s principals a standing ovation during an all-school assembly in October. Middle/High School Principal Doug Kepley and Elementary Principal/Athletic Director Christy Sweet were the featured guests of the surprise assembly to commemorate Principal Appreciation Day. (Steve Hoffman/Piatt County Journal-Republican).

BEMENT

Bement’s action Thursday is likely for the short term, one that will remain in effect “until the Appellate Court rules,” Greenwood wrote Thursday. “We are expecting that ruling on or before Feb. 17th and at that point, the ruling will then be for all school districts in the state. We were simply doing our best to create a safe learning environment for our students and wanting to remain in-person learning. The reason we are starting this tomorrow instead of today is out of respect for the families and staff, giving them time to talk with their children.”

https://t.co/BFgdLFKImE

— Bement CUSD 5 (@Bement_CUSD_5) February 10, 2022

BISMARCK-HENNING

“We are now mask-optional, pending the lawsuit appeal,” Superintendent Scott Watson told The News-Gazette Friday.

BLUE RIDGE

“Although we are not named in the suit, we have decided to pause our mitigations while we await the circuit court decision,” Superintendent Hillary Stanifer told The News-Gazette earlier this week.

CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF PEORIA

Masks have been optional for students and staff at St. Thomas More since Tuesday, following the Catholic Diocese of Peoria’s instruction to schools that it was their call to make.

St. Thomas More seniors Caroline Kerr (middle) and Anna McClure hand the Class 1A state championship trophy to Principal M. Bridget Martin during an all-school assembly in November, two days after they won the school’s second state volleyball title. (Anthony Zilis/The News-Gazette).

In a letter to schools, diocese Superintendent Sharon Weiss wrote: “We have successfully navigated the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic because of the commitment, generosity and adaptability of our principals, teachers, pastors and the Office of Catholic Schools. We must remember that the unprecedented reality of living through a global pandemic presents many difficulties which we need to face together.

“To that end, it remains our fervent hope that all people continue to voluntarily receive the vaccines and boosters; make every effort to mitigate the spread of the virus by utilizing masks, observing social distancing, continuing to disinfect rooms, and following good health practices. We continue to pray for an end to this health crisis: for those who are caring for the sick; for those who are working in difficult situations; and for a true spirit of fraternity among all people.”

CERRO GORDO

“We have determined that the least disruptive approach at this time is to temporarily suspend enforcement of the mask mandate and exclusion for asymptomatic close contacts for all District students,” Superintendent Brett Robinson announced Tuesday.

The new rule took effect Wednesday.

“Importantly,” Robinson added, “this decision is temporary and subject to change. If a stay of the TRO is granted or the ruling is reversed on appeal, we will immediately resume enforcement of the COVID-19 requirements for all students. While we will not mandate mask compliance by District students during this temporary suspension, we strongly encourage individuals to continue to wear masks. This will help ensure continuity of in-person instruction. In that regard, we will continue to make masks available for any students who voluntarily wear masks.”

A member of the audience holds up signs that read ‘Forced masks lead to forced vax!’ and ‘Unmask our children!’ at a Cerro Gordo school board meeting. (Christy Jankowski/Piatt County Journal-Republican).

CHAMPAIGN

No changes, Superintendent Shelia Boozer wrote in a Sunday letter to families: “Because Unit 4 was not one of the school districts named in the lawsuit, this order has no impact on our District’s COVID-19 mitigation measures. We are aware that an appeal will be swiftly filed.

Champaign Superintendent Shelia Boozer (left) surprises International Prep Academy music teacher Abby Heras with a check signifying a $1,000 grant from Champaign Urbana Schools Foundation. (Jim Rossow/The News-Gazette).

“An Appellate Court decision will likely come quickly (within 1-2 weeks) and will very likely provide a ruling that will have a broader and more definitive impact for public school districts in Illinois.”

CHRISMAN

“Chrisman, as well as the rest of Edgar County, will be mask optional,” Interim Superintendent Jim Acklin told The News-Gazette Sunday.

CISSNA PARK

School board members voted Wednesday night to “pause the mask required protocol and go with a mask recommended but not required protocol instead,” Superintendent Dan Hylbert told The News-Gazette.

CLINTON

“Masking of students and staff at Clinton is optional,” Superintendent Curt Nettles told The News-Gazette Friday by email.

DANVILLE

Superintendent Alicia Geddis in her Danville-themed mask.

A day after citing “confusion and lack of clarity around the recent Sangamon Court ruling” as the reason for using Monday as a remote learning day, Superintendent Alicia Geddis announced that classes would be back to in-person Tuesday.

The same mask rules still apply.

“We now know that because District 118 is NOT part of the Sangamon County lawsuit, this order has no impact” on Danville schools’ mitigation measures, Geddis wrote in a Monday letter to families. “We will continue to enforce the mask mandate and COVID-19 mitigation protocols currently in place.”

DeLAND-WELDON

“While we are continuing to monitor the status of the case, in light of the court’s TRO, we have determined that the least disruptive approach is to temporarily suspend enforcement of the mask mandate and exclusion for asymptomatic close contacts for all District students,” Superintendent Amanda Geary said via email, adding: “Please note that masking on school buses is still required by the CDC order and students must continue to wear masks while on district transportation.

“Importantly,” she added, “this decision is temporary and subject to change. If a stay of the TRO is granted or the ruling is reversed on appeal, we will immediately resume enforcement of the COVID-19 requirements for all students.”

FISHER

“This continues to be a very challenging time,” Superintendent Barb Thompson told The News-Gazette this week. Her district “is not named in the current lawsuit, but is named in an identical lawsuit in the same court. We are highly recommending masks at this point, but we are very aware that the court’s process will likely have many twists and turns.”

GEORGETOWN-RIDGE FARM

Wednesday was the first day of the district’s “strongly recommended but not required” mask-optional policy, which Superintendent Jean Neal laid out in a letter to families:

“I would like to thank you for responding to the GRF Masking Survey. At this time, 84.5% of our parents and 71.5% of our faculty and staff are in favor of moving to a mask strongly recommended status. No student and staff will be excluded for not masking. At this time, the Georgetown-Ridge Farm School District will pause the enforcement of the mask mandate effective immediately. During this pause, we will adjust our plan to strongly recommend, not require, masking.

“I encourage each family to determine what immediate steps they feel are most appropriate for their children and family circumstances. Please have a conversation with your children about your expectations of masking practices and that no pressure should be applied by a student towards any other student to wear a mask or not wear a mask. I also encourage everyone to be tolerant and empathetic to others’ choices.

“Due to federal law, masks are still required on all school district transportation.

“Close contacts will not be excluded, but we will provide courtesy calls to let you know if your student was potentially exposed to COVID-19 at school.

“Please understand that the recent TRO is indeed temporary. Our pause of Executive Order COVID-19 mask mandate may also be temporary as we await action from the appellate court in the next two weeks.

“Thank you for your continued understanding and we appreciate your patience. We will continue to keep you informed as we monitor the progress of this legal matter.”

Spectators wearing masks pass by a sign noting they are required as they leave the gym during a junior-varsity girls’ basketball game last month at Georgetown-Ridge Farm High School. (Robin Scholz/The News-Gazette).

GIBSON CITY-MELVIN-SIBLEY

Masks are now optional, Superintendent Jeremy Darnell told The News-Gazette earlier this week, adding: “The management and facilitation of this school year has been constantly in flux due to the ever-changing challenges on the health, legal, political and practical front. Each district has to weigh the impacts of each of those variables and make adjustments. It is so hard. The best advice I can give is to recognize and empathize with the fact we are not all the same, but we are in this together for kids.”

GCMS was among the first districts to announce a change in policy, with Darnell writing in a Saturday letter to families: “Effective immediately we will change to a mask optional policy for students and staff, cease close contact exclusions, and cease mandatory vaccination or testing for staff. Note: Federal Law requires masks on buses that will not change.

Judge Issues Ruling on School Masks and Quarantine Requirements https://t.co/Zz2DxjJH76 pic.twitter.com/BvY2xmzUUY

— GCMS School District (@GCMSUnit5) February 5, 2022

“GCMS has taken a position throughout the pandemic to emphasize support of our human resources, specifically our staff, families, and most importantly our students,” Darnell’s letter went on to say. “Every decision has been driven by keeping our kids in school, following the law, and minimizing risk. We recognize and appreciate that the manner in which this has occurred has not been universally supported, or effective, but our intentions were always pure.

“Please be aware that the evolution of this circumstance is not complete, the Court’s decision has already been challenged and we will be responsive to further evolutions as deemed appropriate.

“I encourage each family to determine what immediate steps they feel are most appropriate for their children and family circumstances. I also encourage everyone to be tolerant and empathetic to others’ choices. We are not all the same, but we are in this together.

“Despite the challenges of the last two years I have stood firm on the premise that we are all, even when we disagree, advocating for our kids and that continues.”

GIFFORD

“Gifford was part of the lawsuit. We will follow the court order and be mask optional until further notice,” Superintendent Jay Smith told The News-Gazette earlier this week.

February 9 TRO Update Heritage for 2-9-2022 https://t.co/WWtbn56IFI pic.twitter.com/R2kttZjkwM

— Heritage Schools (@Heritage_CUSD8) February 9, 2022

HERITAGE

Superintendent Tom Davis announced the change Wednesday afternoon, writing: “Heritage CUSD #8 was not named as a defendant in the (Sangamon court) case, and the majority of schools in the area were also not named. However, some area schools in the past few days have temporarily changed their mask requirements to ‘recommended but optional’ within the school building.

“After careful consideration and school board review, considering stakeholder feedback both for and against the mask mandate including messages and calls from parents, soliciting Heritage teachers and staff opinions, and consulting our district nurse who monitors local and school case numbers daily, Heritage Schools will pause the enforcement of the mask mandate beginning Thursday, February 10 for all Heritage K-12 students and Spectrum Pre-K students from Heritage who attend class at St. Joseph District 169.

“Masks will still be available at schools and encouraged and the district expects utmost respect on all levels as this temporary pause begins Thursday morning.

“Due to federal law, masks remain mandatory on all school district transportation including school buses, activity vans, and cars (including for driver’s education).

“The school district will reserve the right to review and alter this temporary policy change at any time and masks may still be mandated in certain sections of the school and/or classrooms of the schools to comply with ADA or as circumstances may warrant.

“Illinois schools eagerly await the outcome of the recent TRO and court case referenced above. The district’s pause is temporary as we await action from the appellate court on the case. Also, school health is paramount and local or in-school case numbers may require immediate change back to mandatory wearing of masks and pivoting may come suddenly, so all should be prepared moving forward.

“Thank you for your continued understanding and patience during this unprecedented time and throughout this pandemic, which has now endured for 23 months. We will keep you informed as the district monitors the progress of the legal matter and how we are being impacted locally at Heritage. We also appreciate how many reached out to us with their voices the past several days, pro or con all were heard and considered in this process. Hopefully a pattern of respectful communication and discourse continues in the future on this and all school matters.”

HOOPESTON AREA

“Unmasked students will be offered a mask upon entry” but “we will not exclude students who are unmasked during this time,” Superintendent Robert Richardson wrote in a letter to families.

IROQUOIS COUNTY

“While we encourage all school staff and students to continue with mitigation efforts already in place, we will not exclude individuals for not wearing a mask, nor will we exclude non-symptomatic close contacts,” Superintendent David Andriano wrote in a letter to families.

LUDLOW

No changes, Superintendent Jeff Graham told The News-Gazette Thursday afternoon.

Middletown Prairie Elementary kindergarten teacher Emily Fernandez works on a puzzle with student Jake Anderson, 5, at the start of this school year. (Robin Scholz/The News-Gazette).

MAHOMET-SEYMOUR

Masks are now recommended but optional district-wide, “with the knowledge that there is likely an appeal of this decision coming in the next two weeks,” Superintendent Lindsey Hall told The News-Gazette Monday. “My board will cross that bridge when that happens.”

Hall broke the news to district families in a weekend letter, writing: “Our school district was named in this lawsuit. In light of this order, the District is able to shift to masks being recommended, but not required, which is what the Board of Education originally voted to do back in July of 2021.

“The order issued by the Judge is being appealed to the appellate court,” Hall’s letter went on to say, “and we will be required to reassess the mask optional policy if the ruling is stayed or reversed. We will be in communication if changes are required.”

MILFORD

Milford implemented “a pause in enforcing mandates” that took effect Monday, Superintendent Michele Lindenmeyer told The News-Gazette.

Today was our first day with masks optional in two years. I was expecting to feel a buzz of excitement in the building. I didn’t feel that at all. Then I realized it’s because it never left at MHS. These kids are amazing. #specialplacetobe @SAGEHSPrincipal @MonticelloCUSD

— Mr. Woodham (@MHSWoodham) February 10, 2022

MONTICELLO

The district announced its change in policy in a Wednesday letter to families. It read:

“Monticello Schools will pause COVID mitigations starting tomorrow until further notice. Masking will be recommended but not required in school, only COVID positive students/employees will be required to be excluded from school (close contacts will be informed) and unvaxed faculty and staff members are not required to test weekly. Masks are still required to be worn on school buses. We will continue to have masks available for employees/students. As always we expect all students, faculty and staff to be respectful of others’ decisions on masking at school.

Monticello fans cheer on the Sages basketball team. (Robin Scholz/The News-Gazette).

“The Temporary Restraining Order issued by a Sangamon County judge last week is a victory for local control — an opportunity for decisions to be made at home by local school boards and administration. It is apparent that the legal proceedings and appeals stemming from the ruling may take longer than we had originally thought. As stated earlier this week our reasoning behind staying status quo locally was to avoid confusion that may be created as different statewide parties try to make decisions for local school districts. This possibility still exists, but we believe a final ruling on the case will take several weeks.

“Please note that our original decision back in July was to have masking recommended but not required — our local decision was trumped by the statewide mask mandate imposed by Gov. Pritzker in early August. We teach our students to follow the rules and thus we as a school district follow the legal mandates as they come to us. We are making this change with the hope that our community can end the divisiveness and come together to support each other regardless of political bias or whether one chooses to wear a mask or not. While we still believe that the status quo decision was the right one we have seen almost all school districts in the area who made the same decision reverse course in the last couple of days.

“We are incredibly proud of our Sage students and appreciate the respect that they have shown to others while continuing to do whatever it takes to be in school with their friends and classmates. You, as parents, should be proud of your children as you have raised them to respect one another and respect authority even when they may disagree with decisions that are made. Our students have been through so much during the last two years and I am certain that they will come out better for having made it through these crazy COVID times. Our faculty and staff have been walking right with our students and should be commended for their flexibility and never-ending drive to do what is best for them.

“While we have seen our COVID cases drop in the last two weeks, the virus is still here. We will likely have some students/employees with underlying medical conditions that may require some special considerations at school and I am certain that our students, faculty and staff will do what is needed to ensure their safety and comfort while at school. If you have a specific concern about your student please contact your Building Principal directly to discuss how we can assist them.

“Thank you for your continued patience and support of our school district. Together, we are confident that we can continue to provide a safe environment for all students and employees in our schools.”

OAKLAND

Masks are still recommended but not required in the district, Superintendent Lance Landeck told The News-Gazette earlier this week.

OAKWOOD

In a Monday letter to families announcing a “pause in the enforcement of the mask mandate,” Superintendent Larry Maynard wrote: “We will return to our original plan to strongly recommend, not require, masking. I encourage each family to determine what immediate steps they feel are most appropriate for their children and family circumstances. I also encourage everyone to be tolerant and empathetic to others’ choices.”

PAXTON-BUCKLEY-LODA

Masks have been recommended but not required since Wednesday.

Please click on the link below to read the important update on Masks strongly recommended but not required for PBL Students and Staff beginning on Wednesday, February 9.https://t.co/rgev4jJJ3A

— PBL CUSD 10 (@PBLCUSD10) February 9, 2022

PRAIRIEVIEW-OGDEN

“PVO has moved to mask optional,” Superintendent Jeff Isenhower told The News-Gazette earlier this week. “It was not a decision that was taken lightly.”

Letter regarding 2/4/22 TRO. https://t.co/eOaltg58tB

— Rantoul City Schools 137 (@Rantoul_137) February 7, 2022

RANTOUL CITY SCHOOLS, RANTOUL HIGH

The district’s revised policies, effective Monday, mirror one another — and for good reason.

“With the majority of our feeder districts now deciding to go mask optional and wanting to provide consistent expectations for our families who have children in both districts, we have determined to temporarily suspend enforcement of the mask mandate and exclusion for asymptomatic close contacts for all district students,” Rantoul High officials announced Thursday.

ST. JOSEPH-OGDEN HIGH

Superintendent Brian Brooks announced the high school will go mask optional in a letter to families early Tuesday evening. It read:

“Thank you to those who honored our request to give us a few days to sort through not only the Circuit Court’s decision in this case, but more importantly be able to get answers on the level of risk that may be taken on by the School District both if we were to stay with a mask mandate, and also if we were to move to a mask optional situation.

My administration is taking swift action to appeal an order preventing school safety measures amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. pic.twitter.com/ydp2ykygnL

— Governor JB Pritzker (@GovPritzker) February 5, 2022

“I also want to thank our entire student body, who honored our request to give us some time to sort through all of this. You were once again faced with a challenge, and could have easily handled this situation completely different, but instead you handled it like very mature young men and women. I could not be more proud of our entire student body, not only the past 48 hours, but really since March 13, 2020. I know I speak for our entire staff and board of education when I say that as well. I have always believed that a person’s true character comes out during tough times, and our student body seems to exceed expectations almost every time.

“Last, I want to sincerely thank a group of seven seniors whom I promised I would not provide their names, but they will know who they are. I asked seven seniors to sit down with me today as I wanted student input before a final decision was made. This is their school. In my position, I value student input greater than anyone else’s, because it is their school. I asked them to be 100% honest on some very tough topics, and told them that I could not promise them anything as I still had a little more information to gather before I could make a final recommendation to our Board. We talked about the pros and cons of both staying with the mask mandate and going to a mask optional situation. In the end, the most important thing to every student in that room was to stay in school and be able to do all of the extra-curricular activities that they love to do. With or without a mask on. They just want to spend their last three months at SJO with their friends here at school. All seven of you were absolutely incredible today. As I told our Board of Education, it was by far the best 1.5 hours I’ve spent since Friday night at 5:00.

“All of that being said, effective immediately, St. Joseph-Ogden High School will move to mask optional for students and staff. We hope that this will continue through the rest of this school year, but please understand that this Pandemic is not over yet, and we have learned many times since March 13, 2020 that decisions can be made at the state level very quickly and taken out of our local control. That could include another mask mandate depending on the final outcome of this court case.

“Due to a current federal mandate, masks will still be required on school buses for the time being. In addition, the following items below remain in effect:

• 1. We will maintain 3 to 6 feet of social distancing in classrooms.
• 2. If your student is sick and/or showing symptoms, please keep them home. Students who show symptoms within the school may also be sent home.
• 3. Any student who does test positive and has stayed home, may return to school after day 5 (if fever free and symptoms have lessened), but must mask and socially distance to 6-feet when unmasked (to eat or drink) for 5 more days.
• 4. If COVID numbers were to rise dramatically again within the school and/or within the communities, we may have to re-institute the mask mandate.
• 5. We will not tolerate any harassment of students or staff who make the choice to wear a mask, nor will we tolerate harassment of students or staff who choose not to wear a mask.
• 6. Again, to be clear, we do not want to go back and forth in regards to the mask mandate but that decision could at some point being taken out of our hands. We would ask for everyone’s understanding of that.

“We would appreciate 100% continued support of ALL of our students during these challenging times. We want them to have a great ending to the remainder of their school year. They are by far the most important piece to this School District.”

ST. JOSEPH GRADE SCHOOL

Superintendent Todd Pence informed families of the new mask-optional policy in a letter early Tuesday evening. It read:

“First, we would like to thank the vast majority of our families who have been patient with us while we waited for updated legal guidance on how to move forward after the recent court case rulings in Sangamon County. We truly appreciate your support throughout what has been a very difficult two years for everyone. We always have the best interest at heart for all of our families and staff, and we needed and appreciated your trust and a little more time to help us navigate this latest turn of events.

“Every decision made has been to keep our kids in school, to follow the law, and to minimize risk. After reviewing all the additional information that has become available and after consulting more with our attorneys, we do not expect the quick resolution through the courts that we had hoped for. Because of this, we will be making masks optional beginning tomorrow, February 9th.

“Our priority is always to keep children and staff safe and in school as much as possible. We will continue to move forward with the mitigations we have practiced all year, some of which includes:

• “Exclusion protocols for students and staff who are sick and/or experiencing symptoms remain unchanged.
• “Federal law requires masks on school buses, so all students must continue to wear masks while on district transportation.
• “While we will not mandate mask compliance, we will continue to provide masks for any students who wish to voluntarily wear them. We will not tolerate negative comments between individuals about their preferences. Please have conversations with your children about being respectful of other peoples’ choices regarding their decisions on whether or not to wear a mask. We are all not the same, but we are all in this together.

“Again, we thank those of you who have continued to support the difficult decisions we have had to make. We want the best for our school and our community and look forward to finishing the year strong.”

SALT FORK

“Salt Fork is mask optional, effective immediately,” Superintendent Phil Cox told The News-Gazette Sunday.

SHILOH

Masks are now optional, Superintendent Allen Hall told The News-Gazette.

SULLIVAN

The district adopted a recommended but not required policy this week, Superintendent Ted Walk told The News-Gazette.

THOMASBORO

“At this time, there are no changes,” Superintendent Bonnie McArthur told The News-Gazette Thursday afternoon. “The board is waiting for the appellate court ruling before they make a decision regarding mask mitigations.

“The board wants to ensure the decision is sustainable and will not have to be reserved due to an appellate court ruling. That decision should be out in the next seven days.”

TUSCOLA

Masks are recommended but not required, Superintendent Gary Alexander told The News-Gazette, adding: “The recent TRO has brought many questions for school districts and parents. Tuscola CUSD 301 is looking at the TRO and working with our legal counsel to try and decipher the impact on our school district. At this time, we are waiting for the appellate court decision. Until then, we will continue to recommend masks be worn.”

UNITY

Superintendent Andy Larson told The News-Gazette on Tuesday that the district would make masks optional while the district awaited word from the courts.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker asked for an expedited appeal of the Sangamon County judge’s ruling but as of Wednesday, there was no new news to report.

“I was really hoping by now that something would have happened,” Larson said.

Of the policy change, Larson said: “There will be people that will reach out and be concerned and I’m sure there’s a lot of people happy that we’re attempting this. It really all goes back to how poorly handled this was — the timing couldn’t have been any worse for school districts and really forced our hands.”

Gov. J.B. Pritzker talks to Urbana Superintendent Jennifer Ivory-Tatum during a pandemic visit to Urbana. (Robin Scholz/The News-Gazette).

URBANA

No changes, Superintendent Jennifer Ivory-Tatum told The News-Gazette, adding: “Until we have more information regarding the appellate court’s next move, we are maintaining our current practices.”

Ivory-Tatum shared a letter she sent to district families Sunday. It read:

“On Friday afternoon, an Illinois circuit court issued a temporary restraining order enjoining the State from enforcing the Governor’s executive orders and IDPH and ISBE emergency regulations requiring masks for all students, teachers, staff, and visitors and requiring mandatory vaccinations or COVID-19 testing for school employees. The order also enjoined the named school defendants from enforcing IDPH and ISBE emergency regulations. Approximately 150 of Illinois’ 840 school districts and about 700 parents are parties to the consolidated lawsuit.

“Urbana School District #116 was not a named defendant in this lawsuit. The order issued by the judge is being appealed to the appellate court, and a decision will be made within the next two weeks or sooner. The State has also requested the judge and will be asking the appellate court to stay the order. The appellate court could rule on the State’s motion to stay the order in a matter of a few days. As an unnamed defendant, during this time period, USD116 will continue to enforce our Board policy requiring masks (approved August 2020) and the COVID-19 mitigation measures bargained with our union in our most recent Memorandum of Agreement.

“In summary, to limit the health and safety risk to our school community and minimize any disruptions to our learning environment, USD116 will continue to enforce masks, our current procedures for excluding close contacts, and requirements for staff testing.

“Thank you for your ongoing support of our students and staff. While it has been a challenging year, we will continue to push forward to remain Safer Together. As this case is clarified through the courts, we will communicate and share updates as needed.”

VILLA GROVE

“Nothing has changed with our district yet. We will be having a special board meeting on Monday to discuss the mandates,” Superintendent Carol Munson told The News-Gazette Thursday afternoon.

WESTVILLE

At a special meeting Thursday, board members replaced “required” with “recommended,” Superintendent Seth Miller said.

“With the approval of the school board, these changes will immediately go into effect,” Miller wrote in an update. “Health officials have recommended wearing masks in schools and the decision to follow that recommendation will rest with each individual in our school community.

“The challenges of navigating the pandemic have required numerous changes and tomorrow will mark another. Some students and staff will come to school wearing masks and some will not.

“We ask families to please take advantage of this teachable moment and to have a conversation with your family regarding the importance of respecting personal choice for every stakeholder in our schools. I would urge us all to use this opportunity to teach our kids about courage, kindness, compassion and empathy as we move forward.”

My administration is taking swift action to appeal an order preventing school safety measures amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. pic.twitter.com/ydp2ykygnL

— Governor JB Pritzker (@GovPritzker) February 5, 2022

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Originally Appeared Here

JACKSON, KY — Historic flooding early last year left hundreds of homes damaged or destroyed in Breathitt County, Kentucky. Samaritan’s Purse quickly responded and their volunteers served hurting families in Jesus’ Name as they removed waterlogged walls and flooring, ruined belongings, and cleared homes of other debris. Their teams helped dozens of homeowners in eastern Kentucky and saw 14 people receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

Now, their teams have moved into the long-term recovery phase of this response and they are working hard to get displaced families back into their homes. They anticipate replacing up to 10 manufactured homes and serving several additional families by providing major home repairs.

Watch this video to learn more about a recent home dedication in eastern Kentucky.

Don Hayes – Samaritan’s Purse:

We’re here in Jackson, Kentucky, where a year ago, a flood that came through this community destroyed so many of the houses and homes, and destroyed the livelihood of the people here in this town. But now we’re seeing, through Samaritan’s Purse and through the Breathitt County Rebuild, homes that are being demolished and put back together. We are so blessed to be able to have a dedication to give one of these homes back to the Campbell family, and hope restored to them and to their family.

Lloyd Campbell – Homeowner:

This house is probably about 100 to 150 feet from the lake. The lake had never got in these houses over here.

Ida Campbell – Homeowner:

The lake started rising, and we thought, “Well, you know, it’s going to raise some, but not get in the house,” because it never had. Well, it started coming in all of a sudden, so we decided we need to get out and go. So when we waded up there, it was up to my waist. It was very scary.

I had heard about Samaritan’s Purse, but I actually did not know what it involved until they showed up to help us rip out all the damage and helped us disinfect. We could not have done it ourselves. And then when they came back to rebuild and do all this stuff, I just– I mean, there’s no words, there is no words to put in– that we can put out there saying how thankful we are. I mean–

Lloyd Campbell:

It really humbles a person when something like this happens. Hopefully not too far down the road, you know, I’ll be able to put that orange shirt on, help a lot of people that need help.

Ida Campbell:

I would like to say thank you, Samaritan’s Purse. We love the house. It looks so good! And we can’t wait to get back in there and start living our lives again.

Samaritan’s Purse is a nondenominational evangelical Christian organization providing spiritual and physical aid to hurting people around the world. Since 1970, Samaritan’s Purse has helped meet the needs of people who are victims of war, poverty, natural disasters, disease, and famine with the purpose of sharing God’s love through His Son, Jesus Christ. The organization serves the Church worldwide to promote the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Samaritan’s Purse International Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) program is committed to meeting the critical needs of victims of war, poverty, famine, disease, and natural disaster. We stand ready to respond at a moment’s notice whenever and wherever disaster strikes. The DART specializes in providing water, food, shelter, and medical care while sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ.

CONTACT: Melissa Nystrom, [email protected]

Read more news on Non Profit / Faith Based Organizations, and Disaster Relief.

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Originally Appeared Here

Every fan attending Sunday’s Super Bowl at SoFi Stadium will be given a KN95 mask, with face coverings still mandated by the county at large outdoor events due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but it remains to be seen whether fans will actually follow the rule.

Two weeks ago, the vast majority of fans attending the NFC championship game at SoFi between the Rams and San Francisco 49ers were seen on camera ignoring the mandate. Even Gov. Gavin Newsom, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, Magic Johnson and actor Rob Lowe took some heat for being photographed without masks.

The lax adherence to the mandate led one county supervisor, Kathryn Barger, to suggest that the mask rule be rescinded, since it apparently wasn’t being followed anyway.

But the mask rule will remain in effect for the Super Bowl, and stadium officials insisted they will enforce it. The rule requires masks at all times, except when “actively” eating or drinking.

“That doesn’t mean you buy a bucket of popcorn and eat it for two hours. Actively eating and drinking,” Russ Simons, senior vice president for campus and facility operations for SoFi Stadium, said earlier. “We’re on to you.”

As was the case during all games at the facility this season, all attendees will also have to show proof of COVID vaccination or a recent negative test to enter SoFi Stadium.

John Barker, head of live event operations and production for the NFL, said the league has been preparing for Super Bowls during COVID-19 for nearly two years, and it is “extremely confident in the plans we have in place.”

Many of the measures have been in effect at SoFi Stadium throughout the season, including:

— electrostatic spraying to disinfect horizontal surfaces and common touch points;

— UVC lighting to sanitize the field; and

— touchless hand sanitizer stations, as well as touchless soap, water and towel dispensers in the restrooms.

The pandemic has been a constant point of inquiry leading up to the game. Some critics have questioned the propriety of holding such a major event in a county still in the throes of a pandemic. Others have scoffed at the need for the mask mandate, citing falling case numbers and the state’s plan to lift its indoor mask-wearing requirement this week.

County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer continued to preach precaution, telling reporters Thursday that the game can be held safely if people adhere to protective measures — most notably masks.

“We do ask that everyone take care to minimize risk during the pandemic,” Ferrer said. “Whether attending the game at SoFi Stadium a pre-game event or gathering at someone’s home, many of us will be spending several hours eating, drinking, cheering and shouting with people from very different households.

“Because these are all conditions that can make it easy to spread COVID-19, we’re asking fans to follow some common-sense recommendations that can reduce the chance that they expose themselves or others to COVID-19,” she said. “It still makes sense to get vaccinated or boosted before the game. Consider getting a rapid COVID-19 test as close to the start of the game as possible as an added precaution, especially if you’re gathering indoors or with people who are unvaccinated or at higher risk of severe illness.”

For people hosting Super Bowl parties at home, Ferrer again stressed that outdoor gatherings are safer than indoors. She said if an outdoor gathering isn’t feasible, indoor watch parties should be held to a minimal number of people, preferably people who are vaccinated. If not, attendees should do their best to maintain their distance from others.

Party hosts were also advised to ensure indoor gatherings are well-ventilated — with open windows and doors. Food preparation should also be done carefully, and party hosts should consider giving individual food servings to guests, Ferrer said.

For people planning to watch the game at a bar or restaurant, “please be safe and follow the venue’s masking requirements,” Ferrer said. “And in some places in L.A. County there are vaccination verification requirements as well.”

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Originally Appeared Here

Asus today announced ExpertBook B3 Flip (B3402), a powerful and versatile convertible laptop designed for both work and learning.

ExpertBook B3 Flip is built to embrace the new normal — hybrid working and learning. It’s the best companion for teachers and students, and the perfect colleague for business users and pros. With its versatile and tough design, studying or working everywhere is no longer a dream.

B3 Flip is equipped with a 360° any-position hinge for total display flexibility, a world-facing camera for a new perspective, and a garaged stylus for simple, intuitive input. It includes several convenient protection features, including ASUS Antibacterial Guard and a TÜV Rheinland-certified display for everyday eye care. Moreover, the product is supported by WiFi 6 (802.11ax) for faster connections, two-way AI-powered noise-cancellation technology and noise-reducing cameras for excellent remote learning and conferencing experiences. All the features enhance the overall experiences in hybrid working and learning.

Versatility for the new normal

The versatile ExpertBook B3 Flip has a 360° any-position hinge that gives it unrivaled flexibility for work or learning: it can be used in tablet mode for taking notes and studying, or in tent mode for easy revision and taking photos. Stand mode gives everyone the perfect view in meetings or presentations. When drawing, taking notes, or marking up documents, the optional garaged stylus lets users get every detail just right. The convenient built-in holder keeps the stylus to hand, reduces the risk of loss, and charges the stylus: a 15-second charge gives enough power for 45 minutes of use, so the user’s workflow will never be interrupted.

B3 Flip includes a standard user-facing webcam, along with a special 13 MP world-facing high-resolution camera located on the keyboard surround just below the display — an ideal position that allows users to capture photos and videos in tent mode and tablet mode. This unique dual-camera arrangement overcomes the limitations of single-camera devices, allowing users to capture photos and videos in any mode for any task. This in turn empowers students to explore and learn in totally new ways and permits professionals and workers to multitask more efficiently.

All-round speed and reliability

Built to allow safe, secure and speedy data connections everywhere for work or learning, ExpertBook B3 Flip includes fast 4G LTE mobile data connectivity. It also offers up to the latest WiFi 6 technology that delivers ultrafast and stable speeds for online learning and super-smooth business meetings, and which is enhanced with ASUS WiFi Master technology for faster and more reliable WiFi connections at greater distances than ever before.

Life on the road is tough, so B3 Flip is designed to both meet and surpass exacting industry durability standards — including the ultra-demanding MIL-STD 810H US military standard . It’s built to survive every extreme, from freezing temperatures to the searing heat of desert storms, and from high-speed shocks to everyday bumps. B3 Flip also undergoes stringent and industry-leading in-house testing, including panel-pressure, shock and drop tests for an assurance of serious durability. The keyboard is reinforced with an internal bracket, and it also has a water-resistant layer that can cope with liquid spillages of up to 330 cc without harm.

Full protection

To keep ExpertBook B3 Flip hygienic, the keyboard, touchpad, and palm rest are all protected with ASUS Antibacterial Guard antibacterial treatment. This has been scientifically shown by the internationally recognized ISO 22196 standard to inhibit the growth of bacteria by in excess of 99% over a 24-hour period. ASUS Antibacterial Guard is also made to withstand alcohol-based cleaning products and hypochlorous acid water, so it is easy to keep the surface of B3 Flip clean and sanitary — limiting the spread of harmful bacteria.

B3 Flip’s two-sided, slim bezel, multitouch screen provides intuitive input for modern learning and working experiences. The display is also certified by TÜV Rheinland for low blue-light emissions, so users can study or work without worrying about their eyes being harmed by blue light.

Built for work or learning

The powerful ExpertBook B3 Flip ensures smooth multimedia learning and makes light work of all business tasks, courtesy of its up to 11th Generation Intel® Core™ i5 processor and Intel Iris® Xe graphics, which deliver quick and responsive computing with lively graphics performance. It also features onboard memory and a SO-DIMM slot for upgrading memory up to 12 GB.

To level up remote learning and professional conferencing, B3 Flip has two-way AI noise-canceling technology that employs sophisticated machine-learning techniques. The technology includes both an upstream function to filter noise around the speaker, and a downstream function to eliminate noise from the person at the other end of the conversation.

Video-conferencing and remote-learning experiences are also enhanced by the innovative 3D noise-reduction (3DNR) technology on B3 Flip’s webcam. This reduces up to 94% of the random noise that naturally affects any camera, especially in low-light situations, enhancing image quality without affecting exposure or detail levels.

Availability and pricing

Asus ExpertBook B3 Flip is now in stores in the UAE and GCC. Price starts from Dh2,699.

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Originally Appeared Here

Proposed national long-term-care standards to limit infections begin with the premise that nurses — and grandmothers — have preached for years: wash your hands.

Posted on Friday for public consultation, the draft report details roughly 20 rules for sanitary hand practices — what it calls “the most important procedure for preventing (health-care-associated infections) in residents and staff.”

While the proposed standards focus on nursing-home operations, infection prevention and control (IPAC) and small household designs that limit the spread of illness, the chair of the Canadian Standards Association (CSA Group) long-term-care committee said the rules are written with residents in mind.

“These are people’s homes — they are not hospitals, they’re not acute-care settings,” said Alex Mihailidis, a University of Toronto professor in the Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, who specializes in technology that supports older adults.

One of the main goals, Mihailidis said, is to improve IPAC guidance, “whether it’s a future pandemic or whether it’s an influenza breakout.”

Open for 60 days of public feedback ending April 11, the CSA draft is the second set of long-term-care standard proposals released in recent weeks.

On Jan. 27, the Health Standards Organization (HSO) posted its draft rules that focus on resident-centred care — such as living with some risk instead of a rigid adherence to safety — and the creation of meaningful jobs. Both reports complement each other, Mihailidis said, with the HSO draft focused on the “software” (well-being of residents and staff) and the CSA on the “hardware” (IPAC, operations and building design). Final reports are expected next fall.

Dr. Samir Sinha, chair of the HSO standards committee, has said the HSO requirements will be used to accredit nursing homes, but could also provide the foundation for new laws, including the Liberals’ promised “Safe Long-Term Care Act.”

A CSA spokesperson said its standards will be voluntary, unless legislated or used by an accreditation body, adding that more details are expected next fall. The CSA was founded in 1919, developing safety standards for railway bridges and, more recently, hockey helmets and respirator masks.

Plans for national oversight came from public demands for change, after COVID-19 swept through Canadian nursing and retirement homes, killing more than 15,800 residents in both settings.

Health Canada said the 2021 budget “provided a $3 billion investment over five years, starting in 2022-23, to support provinces and territories in their efforts to ensure standards for long-term care are applied and permanent changes are made.”

Provinces that take federal money for nursing homes should be required prove it goes where intended, said long-term-care expert Pat Armstrong.

“I think we have to make absolutely sure it goes to long-term care and, I would argue, when it goes to long-term care, it doesn’t go into making a profit, that it goes to care,” said Armstrong, a York University professor.

The CSA’s draft standards are the first to align IPAC, operations and building design to nursing homes, said Laura Tamblyn Watts, CEO of CanAge, a national advocacy group for older adults. (Tamblyn Watts also sits on two CSA long-term-care committees.)

Calling the draft a “seismic” step forward with a “resident-centred” commitment, Tamblyn Watts cautioned that legitimate change won’t happen without government support.

“The problem with standards generally is unless they’re mandated in some fashion, they are wishful words on a page,” she said. “The real point will be ensuring that these standards are adopted by the provinces and territories in their long-term-care legislation.”

The proposals call for disinfecting of communal areas, washrooms, storage spaces and bedrooms. Long-term-care homes, the report said, “shall be designed and operated to prevent and control the spread of microorganisms.”

One recommendation said the “decluttering of resident rooms should occur on a regular basis,” such as every two months. The standards would also require an IPAC consultation before buying items for residents. “Strict IPAC standards may inhibit residents from keeping personal items,” the report noted.

Personal possessions, advocates say, have deep meaning for residents, many of whom arrive in homes with a few remaining pieces. The fear is that without specific limits to ‘decluttering” standards, enthusiastic IPAC officials could see hazards in resident keepsakes.

Tamblyn Watts said the standards will be accompanied by education and guidance that upholds the resident-first philosophy. Rules for clutter, she said, are intended to focus on cleanliness and the removal of tripping hazards but are “not trying to strip out the personalization of a resident’s possessions.”

Mihailidis, the committee chair, said discussions examined the question: “how do we balance quality of life versus safety?”

In its building design section, the proposed standards recommend small households of roughly 10 to 12 people, with private bedrooms and washrooms. The report said, “Single-bed occupancy in health care settings have been shown to reduce the potential for transmission of organisms and therefore decrease the risk of infection, decrease medication errors and improve safety for both residents and staff overall.”

Mihailidis said the committee looked at international models that create small homes, including de Hogeweyk in the Netherlands. It is an enclosed “village” with tiny connected households of six or seven residents who have the freedom to step outdoors for a walk or a visit in the courtyard café.

The standards, such as HSO’s resident-centred philosophies, could also be used in community-based living options for older adults, said Donna Duncan, CEO of the Ontario Long-Term Care Association. Ontario has a long-term-care wait list of 40,000, Duncan said, so the province needs new ways for people to “thrive at home” or in new community-focused models.

While some nursing-home operators are building “campus” style homes that include space for youth groups, public coffee shops or walking trails, the Ontario government is still approving large nursing homes, usually with units of 32 beds. Progressive operators believe that placing 32 people in a large, noisy area leads to anxiety, fear and aggression, particularly among those with dementia.

Big homes, said York’s Armstrong, are built for economies of scale but can still be designed with small interior households.

“They have the advantage that during the day, residents can move around inside, so you get the space and variety.”

CSA’s draft design standards — including easy access to sinks for hand hygiene — call for connections to the outdoors, where residents, family and workers can spend time in nature. Being outside “improves well-being and can reduce stress, expedite healing and increase cognitive functions,” the report said.

While the standards need government support, Tamblyn Watts said they are part of a movement that is shedding the old, institutional approach.

“It won’t be, by itself, everything that is needed but this is the beginning of a culture shift.”

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Originally Appeared Here

Vertically-integrated LED maker Lextar Electronics has developed UV(ultraviolet)-C LED disinfection solutions and has obtained third-party certification that its disinfection effects exceed 99.9%, according to the company.

Such solutions are based on UV-C LEDs that emit wavelengths of 255-285nm and feature flexible light beam angles that can be applied in various scenarios, Lextar said.

In addition, Lextar has cooperated with Future Taiwan Advanced Electronics to develop high-power UV-C LED disinfection modules for use in negative-pressure hospital wards, the company said.

Moreover, Lextar has provided UV-C LED air disinfection modules for the top-3 Japan-based vendors of air conditioners and air purifiers as well as US- and Europe-based vendors of electric home appliances. Lextar has also provided UV-C LED modules for international vendors of cleaning robots and kitchenware for use in surface disinfection as well as modules used to disinfect static water. In addition, the company has developed UV-C LED modules to be matched with faucets to disinfect flowing water.

Currently, about 9% of Lextar’s consolidated revenues come from its UV-C LED product line.

LED packaging service provider Everlight Electronics has cooperated with Institute of Biomedical Sciences under Academia Sinica to publish the finding that 275nm UV-C light is more effective for destroying SARS-CoV-2 than 222nm and 254nm light. The company has developed 275nm UV-C LED disinfection modules for use in air conditioning and air purification, and has claimed these UV rays kill 99.9% of COVID-19 viruses.

LED lighting maker Ledtech Electronics has become a Taiwan sales agent for Philips lighting products equipped with UV-C LED modules and, in addition, developed UV-C LED disinfection products for sale under its own brand BioLED. The company aims to hike the revenue proportion for its UV-C LED product line from below 2% in 2021 to 10-15% in 2022.

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Originally Appeared Here

If you’re going to spend time cleaning, you might as well do it right. And when it comes to cleaning electronic devices (especially expensive ones), there’s extra pressure to make sure your de-germing efforts don’t do any harm. Not cleaning devices and screens properly can cause major damage — but that’s no excuse to leave them off your weekly cleaning list. While phone or iPad screens may not be the first thing you might think of to clean, these high-touch, daily-use items are a hotbed for germs.

“It’s important to clean screens to remove germs and to remove fingerprints and skin oils,” says Becky Rapinchuk, founder of Clean Mama. Generally speaking, cleaning an electronic screen is pretty simple: “I pour a little rubbing alcohol (70 percent) on a soft, clean microfiber cleaning cloth and wipe the screen,” Rapinchuk says.

For a closer, more in-depth look at how to best clean specific screens, read on.

How to Clean a TV Screen

The TV should be part of your weekly dusting routine, says Vera Peterson, president of Molly Maid. “A quick swipe with a duster or microfiber cloth will ensure no dust builds up in vents, speakers, or other crevices. Unless something comes into direct contact with your TV over the course of the week (like sticky hands or a food spill, for example) this should be the extent of your regular TV maintenance.”

The screen of the TV should be handled gently. “Unless a cleaning solution is labeled for use on a television screen, it’s best to use a dry duster or microfiber cloth to remove dust,” Peterson tells POPSUGAR. “Plastic areas of your television, such as the legs, can be cleaned like any other plastic surface. Keep in mind, however, that your television is an electronic, so it should never be oversaturated with any product. Always spray into your cloth — never directly on the device.”

Microfiber towels are great for all surfaces, but they’re especially good for those prone to excessive dust, like TVs. And an extra tip: don’t forget about the remote control. “Since the remote is shared by all family members and is a high-touch area of the home, you want to make sure it’s part of a regular cleaning routine,” Peterson says. “It’s best to wipe down with disinfecting wipes and especially timely during cold and flu season.”

How to Clean a Computer Screen

Cleaning a computer is similar to cleaning a TV: use a microfiber or cotton cloth to dust your computer monitor. “Remember to stay away from liquid cleaners when dusting your monitor, since you don’t want to damage your monitor or create permanent streaks on your screen,” Peterson says.

The number one rule when cleaning computers, TVs, or anything electrical is to always apply liquid cleaner to the microfiber towel — never spray directly onto the device.

How to Clean an iPad Screen

Apple has tips for cleaning its products. Remember to always unplug your iPad before cleaning your device, and if you’re using a liquid cleaner, it’s important to power the device down as well. Apple advises against aerosol sprays, bleaches, and abrasives. And, like Peterson recommends, it’s important to only use a soft, lint-free cloth and to not spray cleaners directly onto the item.

How to Clean a Phone Screen

Whether you’re texting friends or playing Zombie games, your phone gets a lot of use — meaning it’s essential to clean it. To do this, unplug your phone, power it down completely, then remove the case. Peterson recommends using a soft, slightly damp cloth to wipe down the device. “Try to avoid getting water in the speaker area,” she says. “If you have isopropyl alcohol in the house for first aid, add a touch for disinfecting. It also dissolves dirt and oil and dries instantly.”

One word of caution from Peterson: never use window cleaner. Also, avoid using paper towels, since they can easily scratch the screen. Peterson suggests carrying around a microfiber cloth to wipe your phone with, if you want to get into the habit of cleaning it regularly.

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Originally Appeared Here