SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Gov. J.B. Pritzker said plans to unmask parts of Illinois are on track for the end of February.
The governor shared details at a press conference on Wednesday and said mask requirements will continue at places where they are federally mandated, such as public transit and high-risk settings like health care facilities and congregate care. Day cares and P-12 schools will also require masks for students and staff.
The "exit plans" come at a time where Pritzker said the state is seeing a decrease in positive cases.
"We are now seeing the fastest rate of decline in our COVID-19 hospitalization metrics. If these trends continue, and we expect them to, then on Monday, Feb. 28, we will lift the indoor mask requirement for the State of Illinois," Pritzker said.
On Tuesday, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) reported 4,742 new confirmed and probable cases along with 2,496 COVID-related hospitalizations.
The IDPH also reports 449 people with COVID-19 in the ICU and 243 people on ventilators. The health department said this is the fastest rate of decline in the state's hospital metrics since the pandemic began.
Despite the declining numbers, the governor and his administration still urge the use of masks for protection of people with underlying health conditions and in crowded areas.
“I want to be clear: Many local jurisdictions, businesses and organizations have their own mask requirements and other mitigations that must be respected," Pritzker said. "Throughout this pandemic, we’ve deployed the tools available to us as needed. Our approach has saved lives and kept our economy open and growing.”
The governor said federal mask requirements will be in effect through at least March 18.
Watch the full press conference:
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During Pritzker's Tuesday, Feb. 8 visit to Illinois State University in Bloomington-Normal, he said restrictions on the pandemic would soon ease, as the number of positive COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations have decreased.
"(Hospitalizations) are significantly down. That's really the metric we're watching," Pritzker said. "I'm really pleased with the direction. I'm pleased with the fact that we are nearly one-third of where we where when we were at our peak."
In a Facebook post, State Rep. Toni McCombie, R-Savanna, said an update will be given at 1:15 p.m. Wednesday with the Illinois Department of Public Health.
Earlier this week, the Illinois attorney general appealed a Sangamon County judge's decision to temporarily block emergency face mask mandates for 145 Illinois school districts.
WQAD News 8 will update this news story as more information is made available. Download our app and subscribe to our YouTube channel for updates.