Chicago May Go Beyond Mask Mandates, Implement Past Restrictions if COVID Cases Rise

Chicago May Go Beyond Mask Mandates, Implement Past Restrictions if COVID Cases Rise

Chicago is approaching a COVID-19 case level that could prompt Mayor Lori Lightfoot to reinstate a mask mandate and potentially other restrictions.

City officials lifted the mask requirement for fully vaccinated individuals in May, following revised guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). However, with cases rising and the release of new CDC advice, the city could follow in the footsteps of several other areas and reimplement mitigation measures to slow the spread of the Delta variant.

On Monday, Lightfoot told The New York Times she was "concerned" about the uptick in the city's cases and noted the southern part of Illinois is "starting to really catch fire with new COVID infections." While the city isn't in a place where a mask mandate is necessary, Lightfoot said if the city sees more than 200 cases per day on a consistent basis, restrictions will be put in place.