New Mask Guidelines Issued For Illinois Bars, Restaurants

CHICAGO — Patrons must wear a face covering during all interactions with staff at Illinois bars, restaurants and other food service areas under new statewide rules announced Monday. The updated regulations make the commonsense courtesy mandatory for customers for the first time.

Revised Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity safety guidelines take effect Wednesday mandating that masks be worn whenever tables are being serviced, orders are being taken, or food or beverages are being delivered — whether indoors or outdoors. Customers should also have their nose and mouth covered when picking up carryout or drive-thru orders as well.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker said the new policy is aimed at protecting workers and slowing the spread of the coronavirus.

"Illinois has had a mask mandate since May 1 of this year, and in most establishments people are adhering to it, but it's important that we treat hospitality employees just as you would in any retail store or establishment," Pritzker said. "This new requirement asks a little bit more of our residents dining out in order to protect their health and safety and that of our front-line hospitality workers."

Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike said the updated guidelines aim to make it clear that face coverings should be worn anytime people interact with someone outside of their immediate circle. She said going out for food or drinks should not serve as an excuse for people not to take precautions against COVID-19.

"Stop wearing your face coverings incorrectly. You're literally contributing to infection transmission by doing so, and by contributing to infection transmission, potentially to an additional life that will be lost," Ezike said.

"To the people who say that face coverings don't work: You are simply wrong," she added. "It doesn't matter what video you saw on the internet or the fake headline you read; please know that face coverings do save lives, but they must be used in conjunction with social distancing and hand-washing."

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The governor said the policy was aimed at reducing the risk of airborne transmission by restricting the amount of droplets in the air.

"Remember how COVID-19 transmits. It is essentially your saliva becoming aerosolized when you're speaking," Pritzker said. "The idea is to make sure that the masks are being worn when the servers are coming to your table so you're not exposing them, making sure that at all times when you're not eating that you're wearing a mask, trying to, again, keep the aerosolization and, more importantly, the viral load down."

Restaurants and bars — sometimes crowded, cramped and noisy — can be especially infectious, the governor warned.

"This stuff can linger in the air," he said. "And the more people that you have in the room, and particularly if you're eating and drinking, where you're adding to the amount of saliva that's in their mouth, you're adding to the viral load in an area."

Under existing rules implemented as part of Phase 4 of Pritzker's Restore Illinois reopening plan, all patrons are required to wear masks when on the premises of bars or restaurants except while eating or drinking at a table or bar. The updated guidelines are intended to make interactions with patrons and staff safer, according to state officials, who said it was crafted along with trade groups such as the Illinois Restaurant Association, or IRA.

"In partnership with industry leadership at IRA and employee protection organizations representing hospitality staff across the state, our latest guidelines will put the health and safety of our hospitality industry employees first and allow consumers to have confidence that Illinois bars and dining establishments are taking all precautions to allow a safer experience," Michael Negron, acting director of the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, said in a release announcing the new guidelines.

Sekou Siby, president and CEO of the nonprofit group Restaurant Opportunities Centers United, said the restaurant industry is responsible for employing about one out of every 10 U.S. workers — 14 million people.

"On behalf of the thousands of restaurant workers that we serve in Illinois and across the country, we strongly support Gov. JB Pritzker's initiative to enforce restaurant guidance during this unprecedented public health crisis. This is significantly critical for the safety and health of our restaurant workers and customers — and the gateway for workers to get their jobs back and revive the economy," Siby said in the release. "This updated guidance, which can be a model for other states, underscores the need for a vital policy on how restaurant businesses should reopen safely, equitably and responsibly."

Sam Toia, president and CEO of the Illinois Restaurant Association, said the new guidelines reinforce the pro-mask messaging his organization has been driving home in recent months.

"Face coverings will protect both diners and team members during this critical time," Toia said. "If we want to stay on a steady path with reopening, it is up to every individual to work collectively toward this common goal."

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The new guidelines take effect the same day as new COVID-19 resurgence mitigation measures for Region 7, which includes Will and Kankakee counties. No indoor service is allowed at bars or restaurants, reservations are required, and all establishments must close at 11 p.m.

Pritzker said people must follow face covering requirements to avoid more and stricter restrictions in other regions of the state.

"Restaurateurs and bar owners want to remain open for business, and we want them to also, and this new requirement will help keep people safe while moving the economy forward," he said. "And, frankly, that's a goal that we all believe in."