Naperville To Use Signage To Urge Residents To Wear Masks

NAPERVILLE, IL — As the new coronavirus crisis continues, the city of Naperville has announced that it will use signage to encourage residents to wear masks. The initiative comes after some residents raised concerns at Tuesday's city council meeting over a lack of people wearing masks in downtown Naperville.

Resident Jim Hill, who spoke at the meeting said, "We've always loved going downtown to shop and eat, but now we don't go. The last time we went, on our way to a restaurant, we found ourselves on a narrow sidewalk crowded with pedestrians walking shoulder to shoulder and many people not wearing masks."

Hill said he and his wife are over 65 and have underlying conditions that could make it especially risky for them to contract the coronavirus. "My guess is a lot of seniors in Naperville feel the same way we do. We're sort of trapped in our homes because a lot of people aren't wearing masks in public."

City Manager Doug Krieger said, "What I think the best approach would be is stepped up signage."

Council member Theresa Sullivan said, "an ordinance may be going too far," echoing the sentiments of other council members. Council members also acknowledged that it might be hard to enforce an ordinance.

Council member Judith Brodhead acknowledged that there may be economic repercussions if people are discouraged to shop and eat out because others aren't wearing masks. Brodhead said, "I'm just not going to walk around a lot of people who are not wearing masks."

Brodhead supported the idea of creating videos and other public service announcements to encourage people to wear masks.

She added that she used to go out to lunch and dinner a few times a week, but she isn't doing that anymore.

Brodhead said, "That's a loss and if you multiply that by hundreds, if not a couple thousand people, who are staying away from shopping in our local businesses or making use of the restaurants, that's a real loss."

"There's just no reason not to [wear masks]," Brodhead said, adding, "It's not too much of a price to pay to support our local businesses."

City staff will work with the Downtown Naperville Alliance to add signage and move forward with public service announcements.