Deerfield Mayor Harriet Rosenthal.

The mayor of Deerfield has ordered all customers and employees of essential businesses to wear a face covering starting on Wednesday.

Deerfield Mayor Harriet Rosenthal issued the supplemental emergency order with support of the village board during their Monday teleconference meeting. The order will go into effect at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday.

“The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the use of a cloth face covering in public settings to help slow the spread of COVID-19. It is my hope that these added measures will help us to bend the curve and prevent future cases,” Rosenthal said.

It will require all persons over the age of 5 to wear a face covering when working in or patronizing essential businesses, according to the Village of Deerfield.

Face coverings will also be required when taking public transportation like a taxi or ride share, working in or visiting an indoor construction site, and performing professional landscape services, the village said.

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Face coverings should cover both the nose and mouth. Appropriate face coverings include non-medical grade masks, homemade masks, scarves, bandanas, or handkerchiefs. Medical-grade masks and N95 respirators are not recommended for general public use.

“We are used to seeing smiles as we shop and go about taking care of chores. I encourage you to think of face coverings as a different kind of smile. One that says I care about you and I want you to be well,” Rosenthal said.

“I’ll be wearing my mask to protect you, please wear yours to protect me and all of our dear residents of Deerfield. Do it for you, do it for your family, do it for our essential workers,” she said.

Deerfield joins Highland Park as the second town in Lake County to require face coverings in public to control the spread of COVID-19.

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The Lake County Health Department said on Monday that the county has 2,224 confirmed cases of coronavirus and 80 deaths.