Face masks
Governor JB Pritzker’s Executive Order 2020-32 (available via this link), effective May 1 through May 29, mandates that all individuals wear face coverings when in public places. The Order includes the following provisions:
“Wearing a face covering in public places or when working. Any individual who is over age two and able to medically tolerate a face-covering (a mask or cloth face-covering) shall be required to cover their nose and mouth with a face-covering when in a public place and unable to maintain a six-foot social distance. Face-coverings are required in public indoor spaces such as stores.”
The Order includes specific requirements for essential stores, non-essential stores and manufacturers. Face coverings are required for all employees who are not able to maintain social distancing of six feet from other individuals at all times. Manufacturers are required to provide face coverings for employees. Essential and nonessential businesses are required to provide face coverings for their employees where possible.
The Illinois Department of Public Health has issued Guidance on the Use of Masks by the General Public (available via this link). The guidance includes instructions on face coverings that can be homemade and fashioned from cloth, bandanas, t-shirts or paper. The material should fit snug to the face and cover the entire nose and mouth area. N-95 masks are not required as those resources are needed for medical and first responder personnel.
Municipalities are subject to the mandates on essential businesses, and must require their employees to wear face coverings when the minimum social distancing of six feet from other individuals is not able to be maintained at all times, this includes municipal police, fire, public works and other personnel. All essential businesses, including municipalities, are required to provide face coverings for their employees under the essential business provisions where possible. The essential business operations provisions also apply to municipal operations, so the additional social distancing provisions are required. Those include where possible, designating social distancing spacing of six feet, hand sanitizing products for employees and customers, separate operating hours for vulnerable populations and online and remote access to services.
The requirement for face coverings is subject to enforcement by state and local law enforcement. Executive Order 2020-32 incorporates the indemnity provisions of Section 15 of the Illinois Emergency Management Act. (20 ILCS 3203/15).
Courtesy of the Illinois Municipal League
