I am a resident of Illinois, living with severe cerebral palsy. My condition makes me highly susceptible to severe outcomes if I contract Covid-19. On top of this, I am unable to swallow Paxlovid which is not supposed to be broken up or crushed.  My husband is also at high risk for complications from this virus. We, like many others, deserve access to safe and high-quality healthcare.  Unfortunately, due to the significant spasms in my face due to my cerebral palsy, I am one of the many people with disabilities that truly cannot wear a mask.  Thus, making it even riskier for me to go to a medical facility in person.  I am not alone in this regard as many people with disabilities truly are not able to wear masks.

Tragically, we personally know people who have contracted Covid-19 within the very places they sought help - hospitals and healthcare facilities. One such documented case was a colleague of Dr. Michael Osterholm who was battling cancer in the hospital when he contracted Covid-19 due to staff not wearing masks; he did not survive.

This is not an isolated incident but a reflection of a larger issue that needs immediate attention. As per the CDC guidelines, masks are recommended as a simple barrier to help prevent respiratory droplets from traveling into the air and onto other people when the person wearing the mask coughs, sneezes or talks.  There’s further evidence that wearing masks in healthcare facilities reduces the likelihood of patients getting infected with Covid.

In Illinois alone, there have been over 1 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 with tens of thousands losing their lives (source: Illinois Department of Public Health). It's crucial that we take every possible measure to reduce transmission rates especially within our healthcare facilities where vulnerable individuals seek care.

We urge Illinois to enforce a requirement for all healthcare workers and patients to wear masks in medical facilities throughout the state This simple act can save lives by reducing transmission rates among our most vulnerable citizens - those seeking medical care.

Please sign this petition today and join us in advocating for safer, accessible healthcare environments year-round.