CHICAGO — The State of Illinois Thursday announced that face coverings are now required in all state facilities for both vaccinated and unvaccinated people.
The announcements comes as data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show the majority of counties across Illinois are experiencing substantial or high COVID-19 transmission.
“The state will continue to evaluate the need for additional mitigations and will not hesitate to put them in place as needed to protect the health of Illinois residents,” a release said.
“Given that the majority of the state is experiencing substantial or high COVID-19 transmission as measured by the CDC, all State of Illinois facilities will require face coverings – regardless of vaccination status – in line with the CDC’s current best guidance for ending this pandemic,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Vaccines work – but we cannot promise those protections for every single future variant if we allow this virus to spread and mutate unchecked in our communities.”
The Delta variant continues to increase in Illinois and, according to the CDC, has caused more than 80% of recent COVID-19 cases and estimates indicate it will likely cause more.
Delta spreads more easily than other variants and there is new evidence that a small number of fully vaccinated people who may be infected with Delta may infect others, according to the CDC.
According to the release, state employees, regardless of their vaccination status, must (1) wear a face covering that covers their nose and mouth while in a workplace or performing work duties in indoor settings outside of their residence, unless they have a medical condition that prevents them from doing so; and (2) at all times, or as much as reasonably possible, maintain physical distancing of at least six feet from any other person while in a workplace or performing work duties outside of their residence.
Visitors over the age of 2 are now required to wear face coverings while inside state offices and facilities unless they are unable to medically tolerate a face covering.
