(WBBM NEWSRADIO)— Chicago health officials say it’s likely the city will follow the state’s lead and lift its indoor public mask mandate on Feb. 28 — provided COVID health metrics continue to decline.
“If we as a City continue to see declines in these leading COVID metrics, we too should be in a position to lift restrictions at that time,” the Chicago Department of Public Health said in a statement Wednesday.
The message came shortly after Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker announced the state’s indoor mask mandate would be lifted Feb. 28 for non-school settings such as restaurants, gyms and entertainment venues. He likewise hedged and said this was contingent on COVID-related hospitalizations continuing to fall, following the Omicron variant surge.
Like Pritzker, city officials warn that masks will be a part of the landscape for some time.
“ … many Chicagoans may continue to wear masks in public spaces for a variety of reasons, even if they are vaccinated or as mandates and advisories fade,” they said. “Someone may be immunocompromised, prefer to wear a mask, or have a family member who is immunocompromised or too young to be vaccinated. Please be kind and conscientious of your fellow Chicagoans and the decisions they make to protect themselves.”
Chicago health officials are also weighing whether to lift the city requirement that patrons of restaurants and bars prove they have been vaccinated — a task that has fallen on front-line workers.
Related
