From ChicagoTribune.com…
More than two months after most COVID-19 restrictions were lifted, Chicago announced Tuesday it’s reimposing an indoor mask mandate — and businesses prepared for possible renewed pushback from customers.
Starting Friday, anyone aged 2 and older will have to wear a face mask in indoor public spaces, regardless of vaccine status.
“With the highly transmissible Delta variant causing case rates to increase, now is the time to re-institute this measure to prevent further spread and save lives,” Chicago public health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady said in a statement. “We continue to track the data closely and are hopeful this will only be temporary and we can bend the COVID curve, as we’ve done in the past.”
The mandate will apply to places including gyms, common areas of apartment or condo complexes, private clubs and bars and restaurants, though patrons will be able to remove their masks while eating or drinking. Masks can be removed in workplaces that are not open to the public, if employees are “static” and can maintain 6 feet of social distancing, according to a city news release.
