Establishments previously cited for violation under the Cook County Department of Public Health Mitigation Orders 2020-1 and 2020-2 will be retained by the, Ebola Information for Healthcare Organizations, Be Aware. (emergency preparedness), Don't Guess. If these trends continue, and we expect on Monday, Feb. 28, we will lift the indoor mask requirement for the state of Illinois.. In all, the statewide death toll stands at 33,660 since the pandemic began. t 312.346.5700 f 312.896.2500, Copyright 2023 Illinois Policy | Illinois' comeback story starts here. Missing Crain's in print? By Sarah Jacoby. . Masks, for instance, have been permitted, but not required for everyone visiting and working in courthouses in all of the counties surrounding Cook, including the collar counties of Lake, McHenry, DuPage, Kane and Will counties, since March 2022. story The number of patients hospitalized with COVID-19, while still relatively low, also is increasing statewide. The governor cautioned Illinoisans keep masks handy to comply with these lingering mandates and others set forth by local jurisdictions and businesses. The problem is, you can be infected, not know it and spread it to others in your family or community who are at much greater risk of complications, including death. The Chicago Department of Public Health reported 532 new daily cases on Feb. 10, down 46% from the previous week. While the state fully aligns with the CDCs masking recommendations, it hasnt issued another mandate. Hospitalizations for COVID-19 hit an all-time high of 7,380 on Jan. 12, the height of the winter surge driven by the omicron variant. The Newsletter Bringing the Legal System to Light. Dr. Allison Arwady, the commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health, said Thursday morning Chicago officials will reimpose an indoor mask mandate only if and when the number of COVID-19 patients threatens the ability of Chicagos hospitals to function. Masking as part of isolation after infection and quarantine after exposure is still necessary to prevent COVID-19 transmission. Take Action. increasing indoor dining capacities to the lesser of 40% or 50 people. That day Pritzker announced he intends to lift Illinois' statewide mask mandate, with certain exceptions, by Feb. 28. All Federal employees, onsite contractors, and visitors, regardless of vaccination status, must wear a high-quality mask inside of Federal buildings in areas where the COVID-19 community level is high, or where required by local mask mandates, as further explained below. School masking may continue to be required for all school staff, and for all students not named in the current suit. In a press conference with Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Dr . Individuals in schools, day care settings, and educational institutions should continue to guidance issued by those departments. Following the guidance, Gov. In late February 2022, the Illinois Supreme Court issued an order, removing indoor mask mandates for that court and state appellate courts. In each of the past two winters of 2020-2021 and 2021-2022, the state has recorded significant Covid activity surges, first from the so-called Delta variant and then from the so-called Omicron variant. During the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, several Executive Orders and Recommendations have been issued by the State of Illinois and Governor Pritzker. Federal courts are not subject to the orders issued by the Illinois Supreme Court. All Rights Reserved. Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike previously reminded residents that masks will remain necessary in certain places and situations, including for public transportation, inside federal buildings and in parts of long-term care facilities. J.B. Pritzker and Dr. Ngozi Ezike announced Wednesday. The decision was made in consultation with Dr. Rachel Rubin, M.D., senior medical officer and co-lead of the Cook County Department of Public Health. Those at high risk for severe illness from a COVID-19 infection include those older than 50, those with underlying medical conditions and the immunocompromised, health officials said. She informed my staff that our local community transmission rate remains substantial, and strongly recommends we continue our mask mandate until levels reach moderate or low, Judge Evans said. Chicago and Cook County health officials said they will lift the citys proof of vaccination requirement and indoor mask mandate by Feb. 28, nearly two years under COVID-19 mitigations. March 10, 2022. She informed my staff that our local community transmission rate remains substantial, and strongly recommends we continue our mask mandate until levels reach moderate or low, Judge Evans said. A federal judge in Florida struck down the . Click below to see everything we have to offer. The mandate that all persons using Circuit Court of Cook County facilities must wear face coverings will remain in place until further notice, said Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans. However, Judge Evans said Rubin indicates that relaxing the policy might be warranted following and (sic) anticipated surge in COVID infections over the winter.. Cook County this week has 51 cases per 100,000 people, up 78 percent from the prior 7-day period, CDC data shows. Address :Cook County Department of Public Health Administrative Office, 7556 Jackson Boulevard Pritzker said that mandate could be lifted in the coming weeks if rates continue their downward trajectory. Under the federal agency's recommendation, areas of substantial transmission are . "Until that time, we continue to call for universal masking in indoor public places as part of a layered strategy required to control the spread of the virus," their statement read. In Cook County, masks will still be required in schools for staff members and students not named in a current lawsuit regarding the state's COVID mitigations in schools. Address :Cook County Department of Public Health Administrative Office, 7556 Jackson Boulevard Will be used in accordance with our terms of service & privacy policy. Dr. The Mitigation Orders can be seen below: CCDPH Mitigation Order 2022-1 was issued on February 28, 2022, and goes into effect on Monday, February 28, 2022 at 6 a.m. Health officials in suburban Cook County also said they will drop their mask mandate and their proof-of-vaccination requirement at the end of the month. Arwady stressed that even though the county was in the medium risk category the city is not near reinstating mandates on indoor masking or proof-of-vaccination, though Chicago Public Schools and the Chicago Transit Authority also are encouraging indoor masking. Here's what you should know as the mandates are removed. Published February 14, 2022 Updated on February 14, 2022 at 1:38 pm. The Mitigation Orders can be seen below: CCDPH Mitigation Order 2022-1 CCDPH Mitigation Order 2021-11 CCDPH Mitigation Order 2021-10 CCDPH Mitigation Order 2021-9 CCDPH Mitigation Order 2021-8 I thank you for your continued cooperation as we follow medical professionals recommendations of best practices to keep us all safe during these times, Judge Evans said. Since March, Evans has said his court will allow the recommendation of the CCDPH to determine whether or not to lift the courts mask requirements. (Niles Fire Department EMS personnel will continue to wear appropriate masks and protective equipment on calls). Lisa Chavarria reports. Other large circuit court systems in Illinois, including Sangamon County in Springfield, have also rescinded any mask mandates. I think all of us are very hopeful that we might be able to never put masks back on, Pritzker said at a news conference Feb. 9. On July 29, 2021, the CDC indicated that Cook County is an area of "substantial" community transmission of COVID-19, meaning that there are between 50-99 new cases per 100,000 population as a seven-day rolling average. Using the new metrics, Chicago is at low risk, as we knew it would be. In those areas, masks are no longer necessary, according to the agency. Answer Call. Air travelers with and without face masks use a moving walkway toward their gates at Midway International Airport in Chicago on April 19, 2022. A federal judge, for instance, recently issued a permanent injunction covering 24 states barring the Biden administration from continuing to mandate preschool children wear masks under the Head Start program. Still, Amaal Tokars, acting director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, said in statement Friday that the agency would stress this (is) not a cause for alarm.. J.B. Pritzker rescinded emergency rules enforcing masking and social distancing in most indoor and outdoor settings. But the judges over the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois changed its rules pertaining to masking in August, ending a mask mandate for most people using the courthouse that had been in place since 2021. CCDPH Mitigation Order 2021-2 was issued on February 5, 2021 and updates the Mitigation Guidelines capacities for Social Settings. CCDPH Mitigation Order 2021-6 was issued on March 26, 2021. That means there is high community spread and high potential for healthcare system strain, federal officials warned. The order would also still allow judges to order masks be worn in their courtrooms. The developments come one week after suburban Cook County areas reached the medium risk level, prompting officials to also recommend indoor masking, and as COVID-19 numbers climb across Illinois. 300 S. Riverside Plaza | 1650 | Chicago, IL 60606 Thank you for continuing to protect yourself and others onboard Metra. February 10, 2022 Chicago and Cook County health officials announced plans to revoke pandemic masking and vaccination entry requirements by Feb. 28, the day Illinois' statewide mask. Chicago's top doc sees city COVID risk rising, At Harley-Davidson, a repo shortage is hitting the bottom line, Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson names more appointees to transition subcommittees, Booth, Kellogg top the U.S. News ranking of best MBA programs, Big Fulton Market apartment project moves forward with $125 million loan, New lawsuit over 'brazen' moves in Maple & Ash restaurant feud. 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