Gov. Pritzker held a COVID-19 briefing, Tuesday, August 25th, stating how we can move forward into the restore Illinois plan. Starting Wednesday, August 25th, all restaurants, restaurant, and bar patrons, must wear face coverings.

“To open businesses and to keep them open, we must slow the rate of the infection across the state. With that in mind, today we’re announcing an expanded Statewide policy focused on restaurants and bars. That’s aimed at protecting our workers and slowing the spread.” Pritzker said in his briefing, “In consultation with the Illinois Restaurant and Bar Association,  and other hospitality industry partners who want to keep their employees and customers safe.”

He continues to say in his briefing that all face coverings must be worn over your noses and your mouths. This includes when interacting with waitstaff and employees, and also customers must follow this rule while placing orders, when your food and drinks are brought to the table, and when picking up carry out orders.

Illinois has had a mask mandate since May 1st of 2020. “This new requirement asks a little bit more of our residents dining out in order to protect their health and safety and that of our frontline hospitality workers,” Pritzker says. “Restaurant owners want to remain open for business and we want them to, also and this new requirement will help keep people safe while moving the economy forward and frankly that’s a goal we all believe in.”