Face Coverings Required In Wilmette To Slow Spread Of Coronavirus

WILMETTE, IL — Face coverings are mandatory for shoppers and workers at essential businesses in Wilmette under an amended coronavirus disaster declaration signed by Village President Bob Bielinski. An order requiring everyone aged 3 and up within village limits to cover their nose and mouth while engaging in essential activities or riding in public transportation, taxis or ride-hailing vehicles took effect Monday. It does not apply while outdoors or in personal cars.

Village staff were already required to wear face covering anytime they have contact with the public or come within 6 feet of another employee, Bielinski said in a letter to residents and business owners. Business managers may refuse admission or service or anyone who fails to wear a face covering, "should the business feel that the safety of customer or employees would be best served by doing so," he said.

"We, as residents, business owners and visitors, are all part of the community that makes Wilmette a great place. As part of that communal relationship, we all owe each other a duty to help prevent the spread of this disease," he said. "Wearing a face covering when entering a business open to the public is a simple task that we can all do for the good of not only Wilmette, but for everyone near and far."

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On April 3, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a recommendation people wear face coverings when they are unable to practice socially distancing. The effort is aimed at reducing the risk of coronavirus transmission, especially from those who do not show symptoms of infection. Due to a chronic shortage of protective equipment across the country, public health officials have called for surgical masks and N95 respirators to be reserved for emergency personnel and health care workers. The CDC has published instructions on how to make, wear and clean cloth face coverings at home.

According to the village's second amended local disaster declaration, acceptable face coverings in Wilmette include, but are not limited to, non-medical grade face masks, cloth or plastic masks, scarfs, bandanas or handkerchiefs. Face coverings are not required for employees of Amazon, FedEx, UPS or the United States Postal Service, according to the village's website. Landscapers do not have to wear face coverings while working outside, and private contractors are not required to cover their faces while working indoors, although village officials encouraged homeowners to ask them to do so.

As of Monday, Wilmette had 75 confirmed COVID-19 cases, and there were 13 cases detected among Kenilworth residents, according to the Cook County Department of Public Health. Cook County Medical Examiner's Office records indicate one Wilmette resident, a 101-year-old woman, died of the virus, however, the CEO of the nursing home listed as her residence said she had not lived there under its current ownership.

Municipal officials in Wilmette followed those in the Chicago-area suburbs of Glenview, Cicero, Skokie, Morton Grove, Niles, Northbrook and Highland Park in issuing local face-covering orders. Gov. J.B. Pritzker has said he is considering a statewide requirement, describing wearing a mask in public as a "common sense way" to reduce the spread of COVID-19.