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Governor’s Order On Face Coverings Is Enforceable: ACLU

Rachel Muncy Bonney

The spokesman for the ACLU of Illinois says courts have ruled that laws can be set in the name of public health, which makes Gov. J.B. Pritzker s order on face coverings enforceable. 

Ed Yohnka said precedent has been set with vaccination requirements at public schools being imposed because they are considered to be for the good of public health.

“The important thing is that businesses and others can enforce the order, but they ought to do so with a recognition that there's a lot of different kinds of face coverings, and that it shouldn't be a reason for police interaction. And it shouldn't be a reason for discrimination.””

Pritzker said this week that he expects retail merchants to follow his executive order requiring face coverings that starts today (Friday).

‘I think what's important to remember about this particular executive order, is that it allows a wide amount of discretion about the nature of the face covering. It allows people to fashion their own face mask or  to use available items such as bandanas or another cloth item to cover their faces in situations where social distancing is impossible,’’ Yohnka said.

“Businesses and other establishments should recognize there are a wide variety of ways by which one can cover the face, which covering the face is the most important element of the the order and consider offering coverings for customers who do not have one, or suggesting ways that they might be able to cover their own face,’” he said.

The Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police has no specific recommendations for their members on how they should enforce the executive order.  Some individual law enforcement officials have raised questions about the governor's stay-at-home order, challenging the legality.  A few have indicated they won't enforce it.  

Meantime,  grocery stores cannot force people to wear masks while shopping, said Rob Karr, president of the Illinois Retail Merchants’ Association

“Obviously they're gonna be complying with the request. They are gonna have to put up signs to ask people to comply. There will be some issues in terms of enforcement. I think there's confusion. Some people thought that think that we can deny access, we can't do that legally. So we're not gonna be able to be the police in this matter. But local law enforcement certainly can.”

In a press release, the Illinois Retail Merchants Association pointed to several issues involving the new order and retailers.

  • Shoppers and employees will be required to wear facial coverings while in stores. This rule applies to anyone over the age of two who can medically tolerate a mask, and requires both the mouth and nose to be covered;
  • Stores must impose occupancy limits, restricting the number of people allowed into a store at one time to either 50% of store capacity or limiting customers to five people per 1,000 square feet;
  • Where practicable, stores will establish one-way aisles, which will be designated by signage and/or floor markings;
  • Stores must discontinue the use of reusable bags;
  • Social distancing requirements will be communicated through in-store signage, public service announcements and advertisements.

Maureen Foertsch McKinney is news editor and equity and justice beat reporter for NPR Illinois, where she has been on the staff since 2014 after Illinois Issues magazine’s merger with the station. She joined the magazine’s staff in 1998 as projects editor and became managing editor in 2003. Prior to coming to the University of Illinois Springfield, she was an education reporter and copy editor at three local newspapers, including the suburban Chicago Daily Herald, She has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Eastern Illinois University and a master’s degree in English from UIS.
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