Gov. JB Pritzker announced Tuesday that he will be revising his executive order to no longer require face masks on public transit following a federal court ruling.
Masks will no longer be required on public transit, in public transit hubs or in airports in Illinois, Pritzker’s office said in a statement.
Executive Order 2022-06 will be amended to reflect those changes.
Local municipalities still retain the right to establish their own mitigations, including masking requirements on public transportation, the governor’s office said.
“I’m proud of the work our state has done to fight COVID-19 and protect our most vulnerable,” Pritzker said.
“I continue to urge Illinoisans to follow CDC guidelines and, most importantly, get vaccinated to protect yourself and others,” he said.
Acting Illinois Department of Public Health Director Amaal Tokars said the department is closely monitoring the status of COVID-19 throughout Illinois and working with local health partners.
“The best way to protect yourself and your loved ones is to remain up-to-date on your vaccinations, and that includes booster shots, especially for those who are at risk for more severe health outcomes,” Tokars said.
On Monday, a federal judge struck down the Biden administration’s mask mandate for planes, airports, trains and other public transportation.
The decision stemmed from a lawsuit that was filed last July by two individuals along with the Health Freedom Defense Fund.
The suit named the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and various government officials as defendants, seeking a declaratory judgment to have the mandate deemed unlawful.
U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle, appointed to the Middle District of Florida, ruled Monday that the CDC’s mandate exceeds its authority and violates the procedures required for agency rulemaking under the Administrative Procedure Act.
“It is indisputable that the public has a strong interest in combating the spread of COVID-19. In pursuit of that end, the CDC issued the mask mandate. But the mandate exceeded the CDC’s statutory authority, improperly invoked the good cause exception to notice and comment rulemaking, and failed to adequately explain its decisions,” the ruling said.
“Because our system does not permit agencies to act unlawfully even in pursuit of desirable ends, the court declares unlawful and vacates the mask mandate,” the ruling said.