In Cook County, . DAYCARE CENTER STAFF VACCINE MANDATE - Daycare center staff statewide are required to receive the COVID-19 vaccine if they have not done so already. Get the best business coverage in Chicago, from breaking news to razor-sharp analysis, in print and online. 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. Hitting more than 400 new cases per day would put the city in the high risk category. 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. Forest Park, IL 60130. Park Ridges Peter Skoronski heads to NFL after first-round draft pick by Tennessee Titans, Chris Collins gets a 3-year contract extension after taking Northwestern back to the NCAA Tournament, City officials say grant programs indicate Aurora businesses moving forward after pandemic, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. Mayor Lori Lightfoot addresses the news media on Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022. (emergency preparedness), Don't Guess. More than 400 judges serve on the Cook County bench. This isnt forever, but it is necessary to help decrease the risk for all Chicagoans right now.. On December 23, 2021, Cook County, Illinois, issued Public Health Order No. Masks Still Recommended in Cook County K-12 Schools Following Court Ruling Even though an Illinois appellate court ruling dismissed Gov. (emergency preparedness), Don't Guess. COOK COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH STATEMENT ON COVID MANDATES. Illinois will lift its indoor mask mandate beginning in late February, with the exception of schools, should COVID-19 metrics continue to decline, Gov. A spokesperson for the Cook County Chief Judges office did not reply to questions about the continued mask mandate, including whether there has been any discussion among the Cook Countys circuit judges concerning lifting the mandate. Staying current is easy with Crain's news delivered straight to your inbox, free of charge. Illinois, Cook County and Chicago mask mandates and other COVID-19 regulations before restrictions will be widely lifted Monday. 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. While mask requirements are being lifted or reconsidered at all levels of government, federal, state and local public health authorities continue to recommend that masks be worn in many settings, including some similar to the various spaces in Cook County courthouses. Chicago Tribunes Dan Petrella contributed. Testing can give you information about your risk of spreading COVID-19. The Cook County Department of Public Health (CCDPH) anticipates that if key metrics continue to improve through February, the CCDPH vaccination and masking order for suburban Cook County (minus Evanston, Skokie, Oak Park and Stickney Township) can be lifted consistent with the Governor's time frame. Stay safe out there and be sure to do your part to protect yourself and those around you. (emergency preparedness), Don't Guess. March 10, 2022. The Cook County Department of Public Health (CCDPH) anticipates that if key metrics continue to improve through February, the CCDPH vaccination and masking order for suburban Cook County (minus Evanston, Skokie, Oak Park and Stickney Township) can be lifted consistent with the Governors time frame. There are things we can do to protect ourselves and others from getting COVID-19. 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. The CDC guidance assumes that jurisdictions will follow suit, and we certainly will, said Dr. Rachel Rubin, who co-leads the Cook County Department of PublicHealth, which covers 2.5 million residentsoutside Chicago, Evanston, Skokie, Oak Park and Stickney Township. Look for #MASKUP Cook County posters in barber and beauty shops, gas stations, corner stores and other public places in communities most affected by COVID-19. Here's What We Know So Far, Sustained improvement in hospital and intensive care unit bed availability with decreased admissions for COVID, Decreased case rates to a moderate level per Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria (10-49.99 cases/100,000 population) for a sustained period, Decreased case positivity rate to amoderate level per CDC criteria (5-7.99%) for a sustained period. The news follows Gov J.B. Pritzker announcement that the statewide indoor mask mandate will be lifted on Feb. 28, excluding in schools, hospitals and on public transit. J.B. Pritzker's appeal for a mask mandate in. The Chicago Department of Public Health reported 532 new daily cases on Feb. 10, down 46% from the previous week. Chicago on Friday surpassed 200 new COVID-19 cases per day, which puts it in the CDCs substantial risk category for community transmission, the citys Department of Public Health announced. In a press conference with Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Dr . The Centers for Disease Control and. 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. 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 Department but not listed. t 312.346.5700 f 312.896.2500, Copyright 2023 Illinois Policy | Illinois' comeback story starts here. Published February 14, 2022 Updated on February 14, 2022 at 1:38 pm. story Cook County Department of Public Health Latest Masking Guidance As of Thursday night, there were 808 COVID-19 patients in hospitals statewide, up from 515 a month earlier. Statewide, health officials on Friday reported 7,709 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19, a level not seen since early February. The state will continue to evaluate the need for additional mitigations and will not hesitate to put them in place as needed to protect thehealthof Illinois residents, the Thursday statement says. CCDPH continues to recommend masking with a well-fitting high-quality mask, such as a KN95 or N95 respirator, for those who are considered at high risk for severe COVID-19 illness (or live or work with high risk individuals) when they are in public indoor spaces or other places where individuals near them may be unvaccinated. Illinois coronavirus: County, Chicago health experts split in risk #MASKUP and back up. Suite 3200 Cook County residents advised to wear masks regardless of vaccination (Niles Fire Department EMS personnel will continue to wear appropriate masks and protective equipment on calls). Businesses will be allowed to drop. The city of Chicago continues to monitor this closely. Suburban Cook County plans on rescinding its indoor mask requirements if key COVID-19 metrics continue to improve throughout the month of February, according to health officials. 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 Public transportation officials from the CTA along with Chicago Public Schools are encouraging the wearing of masks. Per TSA mandate, face masks are still required on all public transportation through March 18th. Whether a mandate is in effect or not, we must remember that masks work to prevent the spread of COVID-19. #mc_embed_signup{background:#fff; clear:left;width:100%;font-weight:normal;}, Beyond Chicago from the Air with Geoffrey Baer, Medicaid Renewal Process Starts as Illinois Officials Urge Residents to Return Information, Additional COVID-19 Boosters Cleared for Older Adults, Immunocompromised People, Chicago Faces $85M Budget Shortfall in 2024, Says Lightfoot While Defending Her Financial Legacy, Why Are Teen Girls in Crisis? . One of them is wearing a mask. Cook County this week has 51 cases per 100,000 people, up 78 percent from the prior 7-day period, CDC data shows. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its masking guidance Friday to show 70% of the nation's counties at low or medium risk for COVID. Cook County's courts continue to stand alone in the region in requiring everyone who enters courthouses to wear masks, and has done so since early 2022. Chicago, Cook County to lift mask mandates and vaccine requirement Feb. 28, lift the citys proof of vaccination requirement. (sexually transmitted infections), Fight the Bite (mosquito bite prevention), Go the Distance Cook County (physically active), Rethink Your Drink (sugar-sweetened beverages), Slow Spread. In all, the statewide death toll stands at 33,660 since the pandemic began. 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.. February 23, 2022 / 6:42 AM / CBS Chicago CHICAGO (CBS) -- Citing a "dramatic swing" in COVID-19 cases, Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced Tuesday the city would lift its indoor mask mandate and. Get Prepared. Cook County this week has 51 cases per 100,000 people, up 78 percent from the prior 7-day period, CDC data shows. Cook County's public health department, which covers most of the county's suburbs, announced it would follow suit, lifting its general mask mandate and proof-of-vaccine requirement on Monday . 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. 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. but stopped short of re-instituting a statewide mask mandate . Masking as part of isolation after infection and quarantine after exposure is still necessary to prevent COVID-19 transmission. A federal judge in Florida struck down the . Not all metrics need to be at target to modify the current mitigations, but substantial progress must be observed. CHICAGO The proof of vaccine and mask mandates will be lifted on Feb. 28 in Chicago and in Cook County, officials announced Tuesday. But we dont need it yet and we dont want to get there.. The city's mask and vaccine card mandates . Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Metra also issued an alert to riders Monday morning. 300 S. Riverside Plaza | 1650 | Chicago, IL 60606 School officials said that the district's positivity rate stood at 0.68. Illinois Coronavirus Updates: Chicago, Cook County Mask Mandates to Arwady urged residents to take additional precautions while community spread is high, including wearing face coverings indoors, avoiding crowded indoor settings, limiting gathering sizes and getting up to date on COVID-19 vaccines and boosters, which are now recommended for all individuals ages 5 and up five months after the last jab. //Chicago, Cook County To Lift Mask, Vaccine Proof Requirements - Patch Approximately twice as many Chicagoans would need to be hospitalized before the city would consider reimposing the mask mandate, according to Chicago health officials. CCDPH Mitigation Order 2021-5 was issued on March 2, 2021. 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. Since the Illinois Supreme Courts order, however, Judge Evans has steadfastly refused to relax the mask requirements in any way. Masks remain optional in outdoor settings. Booster shots are recommended for everyone ages 12 and up, especially seniors 65+ years old and people ages 5 years and older who are immunocompromised. Air travelers with and without face masks use a moving walkway toward their gates at Midway International Airport in Chicago on April 19, 2022. Countywide, the Cook County Department of Public Health reports an average of 632 new daily cases, down from 1,007 the week prior. Answer Call. Severe outcomes in Chicago remain relatively rare and the burden of COVID-19 on our local hospitals remains low, according to a statement from the Chicago Department of Public Health. While local, county and state officials are revoking the indoor masking requirement for most state residents, Illinois students and school staff will continue to remain masked as other states empower local school districts to decide. Executive Order 2021-10(HTML) English; . Cook County moved from a low COVID-19 risk to a medium risk of COVID-19 on May 5. Immediately after the Supreme Court changed its standing order, however, chief judges in circuit courts throughout the rest of the state moved to rescind and rewrite their masking orders, to align with the new requirements from the state high court. According to the CDC, 3.5%of staffed hospital beds in Cook County are in use by COVID-19 patients on average during the past seven days. 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. The problem with not requiring vaccinated people to mask in public indoor settings is that "you dont know whos really vaccinated and who isnt when they come inside a place, Rubin said. say, lifting a mask mandate would. J.B. Pritzker and Dr. Ngozi Ezike announced Wednesday. 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. School masking may continue to be required for all school staff, and for all students not named in the current suit. Take Action. As a result, CDPH is recommending that businesses, employers and event organizers require universal masking in all public indoor settings. COVID-19 Community Levels and Masking Requirements by Location Masking in 2022: What to Know About Airline Travel and More We take it very seriously. Some European Countries Are Scrapping All Covid Rules Despite Scientists Warning It's Too Soon, I-55 Shut Down in Both Directions Due to Large Crash' Amid Dust Storm in South-Central Illinois, Where to Watch 2023 Met Gala Celebrity Arrivals on Monday, Portillo's Adds New Menu Item to Restaurants Nationwide and It's Now Available, At Least 6 People Killed, 30 Injured in Large Crashes on I-55 in Illinois During Dust Storm, How Much Could You Get in New $725M Facebook Settlement? 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. (contact tracing), Spread Facts Not Flu (flu and germ prevention). But Arwady said the city would follow Cook County if the county broke 200 cases per 100,000 first. Look for #MASKUP Cook County social media ads on YouTube, Instagram and Snapchat throughout the month of September in English and Spanish. 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. The order would also still allow judges to order masks be worn in their courtrooms. Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol, if soap and water are not available. But Arwady said the city would follow Cook County if the county broke 200 cases per 100,000 first. Even as mask mandates come to an end in Illinois, Chicago and Cook County, there will still be some requirements in place. We are on track to come out on the other side of this latest COVID storm in better shape than even the doctors expected, Pritzker said at a news conference Feb. 9. increasing indoor dining capacities to the lesser of 25% or 50 people. Masks are optional for all Village employees and all visitors to all Village-owned facilities. J.B. Pritzkers office on Thursday announced that face coverings are now required in all state facilities, regardless of vaccination status, to protect employees. This includes in workplaces and schools. But as we saw, things started to rise and it was good thing that people in Illinois were maybe ahead of others to say, time to put masks back on so yeah, there may come a time in the future when we need to do that.. Illinois Coronavirus Updates: Chicago Mask Mandate, Latest COVID Address :Cook County Department of Public Health Administrative Office, 7556 Jackson Boulevard Chicago health officials announced Friday that indoor masking is once again strongly recommended but not required in the city as the risk of contracting COVID-19 in Cook County has increased. Cook County now has 10.9new COVID-19 hospital admissions per 100,000 residents during a seven-day period, meeting the threshold set by federal health officials to warn residents that the risk of contracting COVID-19 has risen from medium to high. (The city of Chicago has 7.0 new COVID-19 hospital admissions per 100,000 during a seven-day period, according to Chicago Department of Public Health data.). Anyone can get COVID-19 even you. High-resolution design files are available for download and use by partners interested in branding as their own with a source credit to CCDPH. Mitigation Guidance - Cook County Department of Public Health 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. In a statement issued Feb. 9, the Cook County Department of Public Health announced its vaccination and masking orders can be lifted in consistent with Illinois' Gov. Encourage others to #MASKUP. At the time, Judge Evans said the CCDPH had advised the court to keep the mask mandate in place until community transmission rates of Covid reach moderate or low levels. High-resolution design files are available for download and use by . Take Action. The decision to phase out statewide pandemic protocols coincides with announcements this week that New York, New Jersey, California, Delaware, Connecticut, Nevada and Oregon will do the same. Get a Test. 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. Hospitalizations and deaths have also decreased by nearly half during that time. With the way the current COVID variants are behaving, those are measures we would consider if we reached the high COVID-19 community level which we arent close to reaching in Chicago right now.. Court officials will continue to meet with the Cook County Department of Public Health in the coming weeks and provide updates as necessary. Saved Stories Save . CPS case numbers have been rising since students returned from spring break last month. Gov. The 0.68% positivity rate is the highest for the districts testing program since January, near the end of the highly contagious omicron variant. Ads can be delivered in a heavier concentration to areas of concern, if clusters or outbreaks pop-up. Everyone 5 years and older is eligible for a COVID vaccine. Mask rules are changing yet again, this time on public transit. Evans has served as Cook Countys chief judge since 2001 and has been reelected seven times. Over the past week, the state has averaged 4,376 new cases per day, up from an average of 1,426 daily cases just one month ago. Hospital admissions mirror this decline through the end of January. Cook County is at 259 cases per 100,000 residents, according to CDC data. CCDPH Mitigation Order 2021-11 was issued on December 23, 2021, amended on January 3, 2022, and goes into effect on January 3, 2022, requiring masking in indoor public spaces and requiring patrons to be fully vaccinated in indoor spaces that serve food and drink for on-premises consumption and in health and fitness centers. Court officials will continue to meet with the Cook County Department of Public Health in the coming weeks and provide updates as necessary. When worn properly over the nose and mouth, masks have been proven highly effective in preventing COVID-19 from spreading. If COVID threatens our local hospitals and health care facilities capacity, we will take further action like citywide indoor mask mandates or even more stringent if thats required, Arwady said Thursday. Still, COVID-19 hospitalizations and ICU capacity remain low for both the city and the county. Region 10, Suburban Cook County, has had . Copyright Cook County Department of Public Health. Share. CCDPH Mitigation Order 2021-6 was issued on March 26, 2021. Executive Orders - Illinois Since May 1, 11 people have died from the virus, according to city data through Wednesday. The governor cautioned Illinoisans keep masks handy to comply with these lingering mandates and others set forth by local jurisdictions and businesses. In Lake County and most of suburban Cook County, the diocese wrote that masks will be optional beginning Thursday. Consider using a self-test before joining indoor gatherings with others who are not in your household. You have to trust that people will be honest, but it only takes a few who are not to spread the virus around.. Mitigation Order 2021-11 Press Release, 12-23-21, Mitigation Order 2021-11 (amended 01-20-22), Mitigation Order 2021-11 FAQs Document, 01-14-22, Mitigation Order 2021-11 Webinar Slides, 12-27-21, Vaccination and Masking Science Brief, 01-06-22, Business Vaccination Compliance Plan (required), Proof of Vaccination for Patrons Protocol Guidance and Template, CCDPH Statement on COVID Mandates, 02-09-22, CCDPH Statement on Masking in Schools, 02-18-22, CCDPH Statement on Masking in Schools, 02-22-22. Technically this past week, the city of Chicago stood at 195 new cases per 100,000 residents just below the 200-case threshold. The CDC has issued updated recommendations for any county experiencing substantial or high community transmission of COVID-19.