New Rules in Place on Masks

The state legislative panel that oversees the state's administrative rulemaking process voted along party lines Tuesday to allow Governor J.B. Pritzker's emergency rule to enforce mask-wearing and other public health orders to move forward.

Pritzker announced the new enforcement measure on Friday as 13 Illinois counties, including Coles County, were put on warning that they have may have to reimpose some social and economic restrictions to control the spread of the novel coronavirus.

The order requires businesses, schools and day care facilities to make reasonable efforts to ensure that patrons and employees wear face coverings when they cannot maintain a six-foot distance from others. Reasonable efforts can include such things as posting signage that face coverings are required, giving verbal warnings to customers to wear face coverings, offering a mask to patrons, and asking customers to leave if they refuse.

Under the new rules, businesses found to be out of compliance will first be given a written warning. A second offense can result in having some or all of their patrons leave the premises as needed to comply with health guidelines.

If businesses refuse to comply after that, they can receive a Class A misdemeanor notice and be subject to a fine ranging from $75 to $2,500.

The rules also allow local public health departments to order the closures of schools and day cares in response to coronavirus outbreaks, and to conduct contact tracing and other COVID-19 investigations in private establishments.

JCAR, the Joint Committee on Administratives Rules, acted on the rules Tuesday.

As to enforcement of the rules, Effingham County State's Attorney Bryan Kibler encouraged businesspeople to abide by the rules, but said no citations have been issued and he didn't anticipate that any would be issued. Kibler said it's a matter of priorities for the law enforcement community. He said it's up to the officer in the field to initiate a citation. Kibler also said the plan is to focus on individuals not complying with the rule, not the businesses.