Pritzker lifts mask mandate on public transit

Gov. JB Pritzker said Tuesday that masks are no longer required on public transit or at transit hubs and airports in Illinois.

The decision to lift the state’s mask mandate at those locations comes after a ​​federal judge on Monday struck down the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s mask mandate for travel on airplanes and other public transportation.

“I’m proud of the work our state has done to fight COVID-19 and protect our most vulnerable,” Pritzker said in a statement. “I continue to urge Illinoisans to follow CDC guidelines and, most importantly, get vaccinated to protect yourself and others.”

He said local municipalities retain the right to establish their own mitigations, including masking requirements on public transportation.

As of Monday, 566 Illinoisans were in the hospital with COVID-19, up 55 from Sunday and up 44 from the prior week.

Of the patients in the hospital, 73 were in intensive care units, up two from Sunday and down two from the prior week. Twenty-three percent of Illinois’ ICU beds were available, the same as the prior week.

There were 36 patients on ventilators, up 15 from Sunday and up 11 from the prior week.

IDPH reported 2,471 new COVID-19 cases and 20 deaths on Tuesday. The new cases bring the state total to 3,102,711, while the death toll is 33,537.

The seven-day average for new cases on Tuesday was 2,292, up 545 from the prior week. The seven-day average for daily deaths is seven, down one from the prior week.

The seven-day case rate per 100,000 people is 18, up 4.3 from the prior week.

About 81.2 percent of eligible Illinoisans ages 5 and older have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, while 72.8 percent are fully vaccinated.

Illinois vaccinators have administered 21,695,861 COVID-19 vaccines, including 4,356,889 booster doses. The seven-day average for doses administered is 18,077.