(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — State mandates on COVID testing and masks at Illinois healthcare facilities and nursing homes have been rolled back, although the sites will still be under federal requirements, the Pritzker Administration announced Monday.
Under an updated executive order, there is no longer a weekly testing requirement for unvaccinated healthcare and nursing home employees. Also, face coverings will no longer be required, though they’re recommended for sites within regions of high transmission.
“COVID-19 is on its way to becoming endemic, like the flu, but it still poses a real threat to our immunocompromised and disabled communities,” Pritzker said in a news release. “Let us continue to live up to those ideals by masking up and testing when we have symptoms and getting COVID-19 booster shots—as I recently did—so that we can protect our neighbors.”
A federal rule from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services requires vaccination for workers at Medicare/Medicaid-certified facilities remains, state officials noted.
Pritzker’s office also said individual employers may impose testing, vaccination and masking regulations.
The amended executive order does not impact vaccination and testing requirements for state employees at state-owned congregate facilities.
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