Skokie Health and Human Services Indoor Mask and Vaccine Mandates to be Lifted as Soon as February 28
In concert with the State of Illinois, Cook County Department of Public Health and the Chicago Department of Public Health, the Skokie Health and Human Services Department (HHS) anticipates that if key metrics continue to improve through February, the Skokie HHS proof-of- vaccination and indoor masking orders for Skokie can be lifted effective February 28 consistent with the Governor’s time frame in lifting the current State of Illinois public indoor mask order. The current HHS indoor mask order was to be in effect through March 7, 2022.
The metrics Skokie HHS is monitoring include leading to rescinding the orders as soon as February 28, 2022, include:
- Sustained improvement in hospital and ICU bed availability with decreased admissions for COVID
- Decreased case rates to a moderate level per Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) criteria (10-49.99 cases/100,000 population) for a sustained period
- Decreased case positivity rate to a moderate level per CDC criteria (5-7.99%) for a sustained period
Skokie HHS will continue daily monitoring of all measures that will be considered in the department’s decision-making process. Not all metrics need to be at target to modify the current mitigations, but substantial progress must be observed. 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.
After February 28, 2022, even with a change in local requirements, mask requirements will continue where federally mandated, such as on public transit and in high-risk settings including healthcare facilities and congregate care. To account for the risk of community spread among more vulnerable populations, and in accordance with CDC guidance, Illinois will continue to require masks in the following settings:
The State of Illinois has also reported that given that schools need more time for community infection rates to drop, for young children to become vaccine eligible, and for more parents to have their kids vaccinated, masks will continue to be required in P-12 school settings unless pending litigation impacts a school.
Information About the Current Skokie HHS Indoor Mask Requirement and Proof-of-Vaccination Orders
See the Village of Skokie Health and Human Services Department Indoor Mask Requirement Order
See information about the Skokie Health and Human Services Proof-of-Vaccination Order
The Skokie Health and Human Services Department recently extended the Village's indoor mask requirement through March 7, 2022. This was done in an effort to further protect the community's health during the COVID-19 pandemic and in light of the current surge in cases and hospitalizations.
The order requires that:
- Any individual aged two and older and able to medically tolerate a mask shall be required to wear a mask when indoors in a public place, regardless of vaccination status.
- For the purposes of the Order, indoor public spaces include any common or shared space in: (1) a residential multi-unit building or (2) any non- residential building, including but not limited to retail stores, restaurants, bars/taverns, health and fitness clubs, museums, hotels, personal services, performance venues, movie theaters, commercial buildings, event venues, health care settings, congregate facilities, on public transportation and in transportation hubs.
The order is consistent with orders and mandates of the County of Cook and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker’s Executive Order 2021-22, as amended by Executive order 2021-23 and Executive Order 2021-27, most recently re-issued by Executive Order 2022-01.