CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- To keep fighting the coronavirus pandemic in Illinois, Gov. Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Public Health are enforcing mask coverings with new emergency rules that will educate, warn and then fine — if necessary — establishments that do not enforce COVID-19 safety guidelines.
The governor said IPDH will work with businesses who have been lax on making customers wear masks to educate them and other public establishments such as child care businesses, retailers, schools and restaurants to more strictly enforce guidelines that have been commonplace since the start of the pandemic.
If businesses fail to comply with mask coverings, they could get fined up to $2,500.
"This new rule provides multiple rules for compliance before penalties are applied," Pritzker said.
Pritzker said these more direct outreach efforts are meant to steer businesses in the "right direction" before resorting to license revocation for not following the state's COVID-19 laws.
While he said most communities and businesses have been in compliance with social distancing guidelines, some have not taken the rules seriously, which has set back months of progress for the state. On Thursday, IDPH reported the highest case count of new coronavirus cases since May 24.
"These rules will help ensure the minority of people who act irresponsibly won’t move our state backward," he said. "When we put public health above politics, that is what it means to be all in for Illinois."
He said the health department will not target individuals but that people still need to wear masks when outside, limit their crowd gatherings and wash their hands frequently to do their part.
Pritzker also announced new legislation to protect workers who continue to serve on the frontlines of the fight against COVID-19. The bill includes increased paid disability leave for police officers and other law enforcement and protection from assault or retailer workers, many who are tasked with asking customers to mitigate COVID efforts while indoors.
Dan Montgomery, president of the Illinois Federation of Teachers, also spoke at the press conference and is part of the education efforts working with teachers and schools. He said education is key and that the state, as well as school districts, are constantly reviewing guidelines and protocols so that schools can return to in-person learning in the future.
"(We have to) keep educating everyone, it is not a one-off," Montgomery said.