Illinois requires all residents to wear masks indoors

Illinois will require all residents to wear a mask indoors regardless of vaccination status in an effort to protect those vulnerable against COVID-19, Governor J.B. Pritzker announced on Thursday. The state will also require all healthcare workers and teachers and college students to be vaccinated or face strict testing requirements. 

The new mandate, which goes into effect on Monday, is an effort to slow new infections as hospitals in the state become overwhelmed with cases. "Today's actions are necessary because Delta is different," Pritzker tweeted Thursday. "The rapid spread in Illinois and across the U.S. is holding us all back from the post-pandemic life we so desperately want - harming our most vulnerable." "I urge everyone: get the life-saving vaccine as soon as you can."