Reports from multiple media sources indicate that Governor JB Pritzker will announce a plan to eliminate his mask mandate requiring masking in indoor facilities statewide.
He is expected to hold a press conference at 2pm this afternoon.
According to the reports, Pritzker will offer a phased approach, which appears to mean that the regional approach taken in prior mandate planning will again be applied to the indoor mask mandate.
The announcement is not expected to address the governor’s school mask mandate, which will be addressed separately. Pritzker is appealing a temporary restraining order prohibiting schools from requiring masks that was issued last Friday by a judge in Sangamon county. That ruling is expected on February 17.
If the reports are accurate, the governor’s actions will follow what has become a wave of similar announcements made by largely Democratic governor’s around the country. Five states have announced the reversal of mask mandates in the last two of weeks.
