Pritzker announces new IDPH rules regarding face coverings and size of gatherings

Posted on August 7, 2020
Gov. JB Pritzker during a press briefing Friday in Chicago. (WJBC file photo)

 

By Neil Doyle

CHICAGO – Gov. JB Pritzker on Friday announced that the Illinois Department of Public Health will file emergency rules for businesses, schools, and child care establishments regarding the use of face coverings and the size of gatherings.

These rules provide multiple opportunities for compliance before any penalty is issued, giving local health departments and local law enforcement more leeway to support community public health in a productive manner, according to a news release.

That process is as follows:

• First, businesses will be given a warning in the form of written notice and encouraged to voluntarily comply with public health guidance.

• Second, businesses that do not voluntarily comply will be given an order to have some or all of their patrons leave the premises as needed to comply with public health guidance and reduce risks.

• Third, if the business continues to refuse to comply, the business can receive a class A misdemeanor and be subject to a fine ranging from $75-$2,500.

According to the release, these rules do not apply to individuals.

These rules need to be approved by the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules, or JCAR, which meets next week.

Neil Doyle can be reached at [email protected]

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