CHICAGO — On Wednesday, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker announced that by the end of the month he would lift the face covering requirement in some indoor locations.

“We are now seeing the fastest rate of decline in our COVID-19 hospitalization measures since the start of the pandemic. If these trends continue – and we expect they will – then on Monday, February 28, we will lift the indoor mask requirement for the state of Illinois,” said Pritzker.

What are the changes?

Illinois residents will be able to resume activities without wearing a mask indoors in certain settings. Businesses and individual buildings will have the choice of whether or not to require masks.

Masks will still be required in some areas.

When does it start?

Monday, February 28, 2022

Where do you still need a mask in Illinois?

On public transport
The federal requirements, effective until at least March 18, include all transportation systems such as airports, planes, trains and buses.

Health care facilities and long-term care facilities

Grouping parameters
This includes prisons and shelters.

Daycare centers
Department of Children and Family Services guidelines state that providers and child care staff, even if vaccinated, must continue to wear masks.

Schools: Pre-kindergarten – Grade 12
“As schools need more time for community infection rates to drop, for young children to become eligible for the vaccine, and for more parents to get their children vaccinated, masks will continue to be required in P-12 schools unless ongoing litigation affects a school,” the governor’s website states.

Full details on the Illinois.gov Covid response website