CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Illinois has a new guideline for people venturing out to bars and restaurants: You must mask up while interacting with wait staff and other employees.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced the policy Tuesday as he discussed tighter restrictions that are being imposed in Will and Kankakee counties because of an unacceptably high coronavirus “positivity” rate in that suburban region.
For weeks, patrons have been allowed to dine indoors at restaurants, with restrictions. That typically has translated into people wearing masks until they get to their seat and then unmasking for the duration of a meal.
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The Pritzker administration says now diners and bar patrons must cover their mouths and noses whenever they come into contact with employees. This includes while ordering and receiving food or drinks and when picking up carry-out orders. The measure is effective Wednesday.
This way, the governor says, there will be fewer chances for coronavirus to be transmitted. Wait staff and restaurant and bar employees are already wearing masks, on their end.
“Going out for food and drinks should not be a reason or an excuse to let our guards down in the fight against COVID-19,” Dr. Ngozi Ezike, Director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, said in a news release. “Face coverings should be worn in any situation where we are interacting with those outside of our immediate circles.”
The state health agency reported 1,680 new confirmed cases of coronavirus disease on Tuesday, including 29 additional confirmed deaths. The statewide positivity rate for the virus is 4.1%.