Health |

Chicago will drop mask and proof-of-vaccine mandates at the end of the month; Cook County follows suit

Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced that Chicago will drop its mask mandate for most settings, as well as its proof-of-vaccination mandate at restaurants, bars and other indoor establishments, at the end of the month, reflecting a renewed hope for normalcy in the city as COVID-19 cases continue dropping from alarming highs.

The moves bring Chicago in line with Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s announcement earlier this month that he will lift his mask requirement for most indoor public places at the end of February should the state’s most recent and largest COVID-19 surge continue to subside.

[Read more] Masks are staying in Chicago Public Schools, but some parents demand to know ‘where is the COVID-19 off-ramp?’ “

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, as well as its requirement that employees of establishments such as restaurants and gyms be vaccinated or submit to weekly COVID-19 testing.

Under the statewide and newly announced city rules, face coverings will still be required in schools, health care settings and public transportation.

In making the announcement Tuesday, Lightfoot thanked residents who have complied with the rules and acknowledged the hardships that have resulted from the pandemic and resulting restrictions, citing the restaurant industry in particular.

Lightfoot said she will “not hesitate” to impose new rules and mandates to protect public health in the future but said her goal is to never “shut down our economy again.”

Lightfoot’s announcement was widely expected. The city had said lifting the mandate will require three out of four COVID-19 metrics to fall to the lowest or second-lowest category of risk — and remain there for two consecutive weeks.

City officials later said, however, that they would consider going forward with dropping the mandate even if they hadn’t hit those totals to avoid confusion for residents.

As of Tuesday, the city’s test positivity rate of 1.5%, was in the “low transmission” category, while its rate of occupied hospital and ICU beds was in “lower transmission.” The seven-day rolling average of new daily cases was still at “substantial transmission” at 283 cases, but all those categories were decreasing.

The head of the Chicago Department of Public Health, Dr. Allison Arwady, said that in a gathering of 50 people, there is now a 1-in-5 chance that someone in that group has COVID-19, versus a 1-in-2 chance a week ago. Similarly, hospitalization rates are a fraction of what they were at the height of the omicron surge, when more people were admitted to hospitals than at any time during pandemic — most unvaccinated, she said.

“The risk is down to a point where it is appropriate to lift” the mandates, Arwady said.

Many school districts around the state have already gone mask-optional following recent court rulings school that temporarily suspended the mask rules for children whose families sued.

But Chicago Public Schools is a notable exception and will continue to require masking.

The Chicago Board of Education is poised to vote on a resolution at Wednesday’s monthly board meeting that would ratify district COVID-19 safety measures including universal masking of students and staff; testing for unvaccinated employees; and directing those who test positive or have been exposed to the virus to temporarily stay home.

Through the resolution, the board would also reaffirm CPS CEO Pedro Martinez’s authority to change district COVID-19 policies in consultation with public health officials “and other stakeholders,” which presumably include the Chicago Teachers Union.

Universal masking in CPS is part of an agreement with the teachers union that was sealed following its January work stoppage that resulted in five days of canceled classes.

“We have made great progress in recent weeks against this virus, and we do not want to jeopardize that progress by moving too quickly,” CPS said in a release. “We look forward to the day when we can be mask-optional at CPS, but we still need to get more students vaccinated across our district, and we still need to work with our public health and labor partners on the best way to preserve a safe in-person learning environment for all.”

More than half of CPS students 12 and older are fully vaccinated, but for students ages 5 to 11, less than one-third have received at least one vaccine dose.

Asked at an unrelated event in Chicago about the city’s decision to end its mask rule Monday, Pritzker said that date “seems like a great day for everybody to follow suit.”

“But,” the governor continued, “I will add that there are local governments that have imposed stricter mitigations, and they’re welcome to do so.”

Lightfoot announced the latest move as the national trend turns against masking and other restrictions due to broader social desires to return to “normal,” though some doctors and activists caution against people dropping their guard.

Throughout the pandemic, Lightfoot has walked a fine line between tough measures and keeping the city open. She has encouraged residents to get vaccinated and warned about possible restrictions if the city sees spikes.

But she also has made a point of emphasizing her desire to keep the city as open as possible.

At times, it has led to some mixed messaging and conflict with the state.

As cases rose in October 2020, for instance, she regularly warned about tighter restrictions being forthcoming — then criticized Pritzker for again shutting down indoor dining.

Lightfoot resisted proof-of-vaccine mandates until Jan. 3, long after other cities such as New York had implemented similar policies. In September, for instance, she dismissed a proposal for such a mandate from Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa and other City Council members.

As Lightfoot lifted her mandates, she told residents to respect the wishes of businesses that choose to require masks or proof-of-vaccination.

“That’s their choice and obviously that’s their right,” Lightfoot said.

She also said she will continue to wear a mask in public.

“Particularly in a restaurant setting, where I have no idea now whether the people sitting around me are vaccinated, I’ll be wearing a mask,” Lightfoot said.

Sam Toia, president and CEO of the Illinois Restaurant Association, called Tuesday’s announcement “an encouraging sign of better times ahead for Chicago’s restaurant community. This is a meaningful step that will increase consumer confidence and keep our restaurants on a steady path to recovery.”

Chicago Tribune’s Alice Yin, Tracy Swartz and Clare Spaulding contributed.

gpratt@chicagotribune.com