The mayor's office said the Chicago Department of Public Health reviewed each of the local businesses' proposed masks to ensure they meet national safety standards. Based on their proposed product samples, production schedules and pricing, the four vendors were selected to produce masks.
"I'm thrilled to be able to have been recognized as a contributor to making masks for the citizens of Chicago — a world-class city," said Bates.
CDPH encourages all residents to use cloth masks and save medical masks, including N95 respirators and surgical masks, for healthcare workers and first responders on the frontlines. More information about how to prevent the spread of COVID-19 can be found on the city's website.
Last week, Governor Pritzker's modified stay-at-home order took effect, which requires all Chicago residents and visitors over the age of two to wear a face-covering or a cloth mask when in a public place where they can't maintain a six-foot social distance.
Officials say the state is still not out of the woods of the pandemic peak and residents must follow the coronavirus guidelines to stop the spread.
On Saturday, the Illinois Department of Public Health announced 2,325 new cases of coronavirus in Illinois and 111 new deaths, bringing the total cases to 76,085 and 3,349 deaths.
