KEWANEE, Ill. — Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s announcement that he plans to ease mask requirements at the end of February means businesses, restaurants and bars in Illinois no longer have to require employees and patrons to wear masks indoors.
These were some of the places hit hard by the pandemic, and businesses in Kewanee said they’re hoping it will return business to pre-pandemic levels.
“We’re very excited about it,” said John Cernovich, owner of Cerno’s Bar and Grill. “We think it’s long overdue, probably should’ve done it a long time ago.”
He added Cerno’s hasn’t been requiring employees and customers to wear masks for some time now. Instead, he said they want it to be a personal choice. Now, he’s hoping the statewide mask lift will encourage more people to dine in.
“We hope with lifting the mandate it’ll help make people even more comfortable and lift business to where it was pre-pandemic,” Cernovich said.
Similarly, the owner of Hillside Florist said she hasn’t been requiring people to wear masks either.
“When we’re back in the back working, it hasn’t affected us because we’re with the same people every day,” Teresa Mirocha said. “People come in and ask me if (they) need to wear a mask, and I say, ‘That’s up to you. If you feel more comfortable with a mask then you should wear one, but if you don’t feel you need one then don’t.'”
She said she's excited to see it lifting across the state, though.
“I think it’s awesome,” Mirocha said. “We all need to start getting back to some normalcy … and going about our lives again hopefully.”
Other Kewanee businesses said they aren’t ready to lift the mask requirement just yet. Mike Karamajames works at The Barn House and said employees will still being wearing masks come Feb. 28.
“We’ll definitely (require masks) until (COVID-19 cases) die down. I hope they do,” Karamajames said. “Our main concern is our customers, make them feel safe.”
He said he thinks the state will continue to see more positive cases.
Mask requirements will continue through at least March 18 at places such as public transit and health care facilities and congregate care, where they’re federally mandated. Masks will still required for students and staff at day cares and pre-K through 12 schools.
Pritzker is still working to appeal a Sangamon County judge’s decision to temporarily block face mask mandates for 145 Illinois school districts. The decision to demask Illinois comes as the state is seeing a decrease in positive cases and hospitalizations, Pritzker said Wednesday, Feb. 9.
On Wednesday, the Illinois Department of Public Health reported 4,742 new confirmed and probable cases and 2,496 people in the hospital with COVID-19.
IDPH also reported 449 people with COVID-19 in the intensive care unit and 243 people on ventilators. It said 20% of ICU beds are now available statewide, which marks the fastest decline in hospital metrics since the pandemic began.
In Illinois, 75.7% of people have received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.