SPRINGFIELD, IL (KMOX) - "If these trends continue, and we expect them to, then on Monday, February 28th, we will lift the indoor mask requirement for the State of Illinois." Illinois Governor JB Pritzker announces an end in sight for mask mandates Wednesday.
COVID-19 hospitalizations in the state of Illinois peaked in mid-January. By last week, that number had dropped by more than half and hospitalization rates continue to fall. "We are now seeing the fastest rate of decline in our COVID-19 hospitalization metrics since the pandemic began," explained Governor Pritzker in an update on the state's efforts to fight the pandemic.
Pritzker says the mandate would stay in effect if the decline stalls out or reverses.
It applies to restaurants, grocery stores and other public indoor places. It would not apply to transportation supported by federal funding.
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Pritzker says he doesn't intend to drop masking in schools. The issue is now before an appellate court after a judge issued a temporary restraining order against the state's school mask mandate. Some schools in the KMOX listening area are following the judge's order. Other's continue to require masks, saying the ruling only applies to families who are part of the legal challenge.
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