Illinois gov encourages residents to carry masks amid Delta variant spread

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said he is encouraging all residents regardless of vaccination status to leave home with a mask citing concern over the rapid spread of the Delta variant.

"I think when we leave our home every day, I would encourage everybody whether you’re vaccinated or not to bring your mask with you," he told reporters. "You know what the guidelines are across the state of Illinois, and use your mask accordingly. I would say from my own perspective, if you’re going into a heavily crowded area, you don’t know if someone is vaccinated so you should just bring your mask with you and keep safe."  Pritzker cited the rapid spread of the Delta variant in Israel and said it had forced the country back into requiring vaccinated people to wear masks indoors.