UPDATED: Pritzker Extends Mask Mandate Through Early June
Governor JB Pritzker’s office says he has extended the state’s mask mandate until early June. If enacted, it will mean Illinoisans will have been required to wear masks in public for 13 months during the global pandemic.
Governor JB Pritzker’s office says it filed an emergency rule with the state to extend the state’s mask mandate until June 3.
The original mask mandate, which took effect in May, was scheduled to expire Sunday. A new emergency rule was filed with the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules, known as JCAR, a bipartisan, bicameral board of lawmakers that oversees the rulemaking process of laws.
The language of the proposed emergency rule was not released by the Governor’s office at the request of The Illinoize, and JCAR has not printed the rule yet in the Illinois Register, which publishes rulemaking documents.
The Illinoize submitted a question for Pritzker on the new mask mandate during his news conference Wednesday, but it was not asked by his Press Secretary.
It isn’t clear yet if the emergency rule will need approval by the legislative branch.
Pritzker also announced Wednesday he would begin to ease COVID-19 mitigations on bars, restaurants, and businesses beginning January 15. Many individual counties and regions had qualified for reduced mitigations under Pritzker’s original “Restore Illinois” plan, but he said in late December he would not ease restrictions until after a potential post-Christmas and New Year surge.
UPDATED (1/7 3:25 P.M.):
From the Governor’s Emergency Rule:
Any individual who is over age two and able to medically tolerate a face covering (a mask or cloth face covering) shall be required to cover their nose and mouth with a face covering when in a public place and unable to maintain at least a six-foot social distance. This requirement applies whether in an indoor space, such as a store, or in an outdoor space.
Any business, service, facility or organization open to the public or employees shall require employees, customers, and other individuals on the premises who are over age two and able to medically tolerate a face covering to cover their nose and mouth with a face covering when on premises and unable to maintain at least a six-foot social distance. Businesses, services, facilities or organizations that offer food or beverages for in-person consumption may permit employees, customers, and other individuals to remove their face coverings while eating or drinking, but must require face coverings at all other times. Businesses, services, facilities or organizations that take reasonable efforts to require patrons and employees to wear a face covering shall be in compliance with this subsection. For retail businesses, reasonable efforts to comply with regard to customers shall be determined based on the totality of the circumstances and include, but are not limited to: posting signage requiring face coverings to be worn on the premises; providing face coverings to customers; giving verbal or written warnings to customers who are not wearing a face covering to inform them of the requirement to wear a face covering when on the premises; requesting verbally or in writing that customers leave the premises if not wearing a face covering; and making available reasonable accommodations for individuals who are not able to medically tolerate a face covering.
Schools, including preschools, public and nonpublic schools that serve students in grades pre-kindergarten through grade 12, institutions of higher education, and vocational programs, and day cares, including day care centers, day care homes, and group day care homes licensed by the Department of Children & Family Services (DCFS) and day care centers that are exempt from licensure, shall require students, employees, and other individuals who are over age two and able to medically tolerate a face covering to cover their nose and mouth with a face covering when on premises. Schools and day cares may permit face coverings to be removed while eating or drinking, when individuals are outdoors and social distance is maintained, while playing a musical instrument if necessary, and, for staff, while using a face shield when necessary to allow for facial visualization during instruction and communication.
Gatherings of more than 50 people (or gatherings of 50% or more of a building’s maximum occupancy as determined by the authority having jurisdiction, if 50% of a building maximum occupancy is less than 50 people) are prohibited unless exempted by law or Executive Order. Public and nonpublic schools serving pre-kindergarten through 12th grade students must limit the number of people in one space to fifty or fewer.
The 150-day extension is the maximum allowed under emergency rulemaking authority. We’re told the Governor could withdraw it early if vaccination rates are high or positive cases drop dramatically lower.