New Masking Guidelines Issued By Evanston Health Department

Press release from the City of Evanston:

The City of Evanston’s Health & Human Services Department has updated its masking guidelines in alignment with the latest guidance from the CDC, IDPH and Cook County Department of Public Health.

Guidelines for everyone, regardless of vaccination status:

• Individuals over 2 years of age should wear a mask in all public indoor settings, regardless of vaccination status. This includes at offices, businesses, restaurants and bars, fitness centers, grocery stores, and other public venues.
• Fully vaccinated people are recommended to wear a mask if they are immunocompromised or at increased risk for severe disease from COVID-19, or if they have someone in their household who is immunocompromised, at increased risk of severe disease, or not fully vaccinated.
• Masks continue to be required for all individuals, regardless of vaccination status, at K-12 schools, indoors at City facilities and library locations, in healthcare and long-term care settings, and on public transportation.

Guidelines for those not fully vaccinated:

• Those who are not fully vaccinated must continue to wear a face covering and practice social distancing at all indoor businesses and venues, as well as in outdoor public settings when maintaining a six-foot distance from others is not possible.

Individuals are considered to be fully vaccinated two weeks after their second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or two weeks after their single dose of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine.

Businesses and venues are encouraged to require face coverings for all patrons unless they can verify that individuals have been fully vaccinated.

The City will continue to evaluate face covering guidelines and will provide additional updates, as necessary.

This press release was produced by the City of Evanston. The views expressed here are the author’s own.