Will County health officials: Keep masking

The state of Illinois is starting to open up and if the metrics continue moving in the right direction, the Governor is set to fully reopen the state.

After 15 months after declaring a public health emergency, the state of Illinois is moving closer to a full reopening and that could come as soon as June 11, according to Gov. JB Pritzker who announced last week that all regions in the state would advance into the bridge phase of the state’s reopening planning.

The bridge phase allows higher capacity limits and increased business operations, while a move to Phase 5 would end the need for capacity limits and restrictions on businesses.

Illinois advanced into the bridge phase on May 14, one day after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued updated guidance that permits individuals fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to go unmasked in public settings—indoors or outdoors—with the exception being in a healthcare setting and those who utilize public transportation including those on planes and trains are encouraged to continue to mask up.

On Monday, Pritzker issued an executive order allowing the fully vaccinated to go unmasked. The rules are nearly identical to the CDC’s guidance, and it permits any entity to continue stricter masking requirements than are required by the state.

“Businesses are encouraged to prioritize the health and safety of their workers and customers, and may continue to require face coverings and social distancing, even for those who are fully vaccinated,” the order states.

The Governor said it will be up to private businesses to decide if they want to require patrons to provide proof of vaccinations.

“We are relying on people to do the right thing. We are relying upon people to recognize that they don’t want to go infect other unvaccinated people and they don’t themselves want to get sick and so it’s important for people to protect themselves and I think there’s real motivation for people to go get that. We’re not going to stop people and, you know, start checking a vaccine passport as part of some state mandate,” he said.

In Will County, officials with the health department said changes recommended by the CDC on mask wearing were designed to apply primarily to when patronizing businesses or organizations, or when out and about in public places.

However, Sue Olenek, Executive Director of the Will County Health Department and Community Health Center, is asking that all fully vaccinated residents continue to follow the status-quo on COVID-19 precautions.

“It is recommended by the WCHD that businesses and organizations continue to require masking and social distancing, and that residents continue to follow these requirements,” Olenek said. “While removing our masks when we’re outdoors in non-crowded situations or indoors with immediate family is okay, continuing to wear our masks properly and observe proper social distancing in all other situations is our best strategy at this time.

“We are expecting follow-up guidance from the IDPH (Illinois Department of Public Health) in response to the CDC’s adjustments sometime this week,” Olenek continued. “At that time, we will have a follow-up statement about our recommendations.”

Will County’s COVID-19 vaccination sites offering the two-dose Pfizer vaccine is now open to children ages 12 to 15, with the option to book appointments now online at www.willcountyhealth.org.

The current positivity rate is 3.6% in Will County.