Now that you've got a bunch of masks that match up with all of your different outfits and moods, it would be a real shame to get rid of them wouldn't it? Don't worry. It's not going to happen anytime soon.

That's because Governor Pritzker's administration has refiled to extend by 150 days the COVID-19 emergency plan mandating masks and social distancing that expired on Monday.

TheCenterSquare.com says:

The updated emergency rule also prohibits gatherings of more than 50 people. Public and nonpublic schools are to have fewer than 50 people in any one space. Enforcement of the rule will be up to all local boards of health, health authorities and officers, police officers, sheriffs, and all other officers and employees of the State and any locality.

There aren't any additions to the re-filed emergency order that we didn't have to deal with before, just more doing what we've been doing since the first order went into effect. This time, it looks like we'll be doing this until June 3rd of this year.

In their emergency order, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) breaks it down for you:

Any individual who is over age two and able to medically tolerate a face covering (a mask or cloth face covering) shall be required to cover their nose and mouth with a face covering when in a public place and unable to maintain at least a six-foot social distance. This requirement applies whether in an indoor space, such as a store, or in an outdoor space.

Illinois Policy Institute reports that The Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR) is going to get together next week (Tuesday, January 12th) to determine whether the order will stay in play until June 3rd, and Governor Pritzker himself could decide to cancel out the emergency order if Illinois' COVID-19 numbers drop off in large enough quantities.

Until then, just keep adding to your mask collection.

 

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