University of Illinois strongly recommending face covering use due to increased COVID spread

URBANA (25 News Now) - Out of concern, officials at the University of Illinois are strongly recommending everyone wears a high-quality face covering in classroom during in-person class time.

That begins on Monday, August 29th, and lasts for the next several weeks.

In a statement sent to the University, Chancellor Robert Jones says they have seen an increase in COVID-19 cases, and the CDC has placed Champaign County under the community level of high, showing increased COVID-19 spread in the area.

“Based on case data and trends, this time period is critical as we expect our on-campus cases to peak,” Jones said to the University community.

We are sincerely grateful that due to safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines and a university community that is more than 92 percent fully vaccinated, the positive cases this semester have generally been very mild or asymptomatic,” said Jones. “We also expect to see new COVID-19 boosters be distributed as early as September, and we plan to make those available for our faculty, staff and students to provide increased protection.”