Pritzker rescinds mask mandate for fully vaccinated; Illinois now in 'bridge' phase
SPRINGFIELD - Gov. J.B. Pritzker has issued a new executive order that allows fully vaccinated residents to not wear masks inside and outdoors.
The updated rules for mask wearing are nearly identical to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's updated guidance, which was released last Thursday. The CDC guidance permits fully vaccinated people to not wear masks or physically distance in most non-health care settings, except where required by businesses and workplaces.
The number of reported COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in Illinois are decreasing, as the state moved into the "bridge" phase on Friday.
The bridge phase allows for increased capacity limits for various indoor and outdoor venues.
The CDC still recommends that fully vaccinated people wear masks in health care settings, as well as on planes, trains and other public transportation.
Pritzker's new executive order requires residents to follow the CDC recommendation regarding planes and public transportation. It also permits any entity, like businesses and workplaces, to continue stricter masking requirements than are required by the state.
"(B) usinesses ... may continue to require face coverings and social distancing, even for those who are fully vaccinated," the order states.
Pritzker said it will be up to private businesses to decide if they want to require patrons to provide proof of vaccinations.
"We are relying on people to do the right thing," he said. "We are relying upon people to recognize that they don't want to infect other unvaccinated people and they don't themselves want to get sick.
"We're not going to stop people and, you know, start checking a vaccine passport as part of some state mandate," he added.
Du Quoin Mayor Guy Alongi said Thursday that he believes vaccinated residents will take advantage of the new, looser guidelines, although some people will still prefer to wear masks. Unlike some other communities, Du Quoin never invoked a municipal mask ordinance, so it has nothing to rescind.
"I felt that people would be smart enough to protect themselves," Alongi said, adding it is anyone's privilege to continue to wear masks if they want to, and acknowledging that local businesses can require masks.
Alongi wants Du Quoin residents to "try to get our lives back to normal," while at the same time being cognizant the virus is still out there.
For example, at tonight's high school graduation at Van Metre Field, the new guidelines allow for the stadium to be filled to 60%. Accordingly, Du Quoin High School has abandoned its plan to ticket all audience members, as the stadium will easily accommodate whoever wants to come.
Restaurants won't see much change in guidelines, as under the bridge phase they still must seat patrons 6 or more feet apart and limit parties to fewer than 10. The standing area capacity has risen to 30% indoors and 50% outdoors.
Alongi said he has been dining in local restaurants for five or six months now, always being careful to follow the CDC guidelines.
The mask mandate in Illinois took effect last May with Pritzker's executive order requiring anyone older than 2 years to cover their nose and mouth with a face covering when in a public place.
Illinois is reporting 37.7% of the population, or more than 4.8 million people, are fully vaccinated.
About 57 percent of Illinoisans between ages 16 and 64 have received at least one dose of the vaccine, as have 81.3 percent of those 65 or older.
If COVID metrics remain stable, the state is set to fully reopen without limitations on capacity on June 11.
Hospitalizations for the week ending May 16 fell by about 14% from the week prior. As of Sunday, there were 1,512 individuals in the hospital with COVID-19.
On Monday, IDPH reported 946 new confirmed and probable cases out of 33,148 tests, with a rolling case positivity rate of 2.4%, down from 2.8% last Monday.
The state reported six additional COVID-related deaths Monday, bringing the statewide death toll to 22,445.