The city of Chicago will be lifting most COVID-19 mitigation mandates by the end of the month, but private businesses may still require masks and vaccine proof.
Since the beginning of the year, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot has mandated most businesses require customers to show proof of vaccination for entrance. The city also has had a mask mandate for indoor settings. Lightfoot said the announced end of the mandates on Feb. 28 doesn’t have to do with a lawsuit challenging the vaccine mandates for customers.
“We follow the data and the science,” Lightfoot said. “Look, I’m a 30-year veteran litigator. I’m not afraid of a lawsuit.”
The Liberty Justice Center on Feb. 10 filed a federal lawsuit against Chicago and Cook County to end their “illegal and discriminatory proof of vaccination’ requirements.”
“Chicago and Cook County residents claim the orders violate the rights of equal protection, due process and freedom of religion provided by the U.S. Constitution, while also violating state law, the Illinois state constitution and Chicago’s own municipal code,” Liberty Justice Center said in a statement.
Lightfoot said businesses can choose to continue the requirements for vaccine proof and masks after Feb. 28.
Chicago Department of Public Health Director Dr. Alison Arwady said the COVID-19 statistics are heading in the right direction for mandates to be lifted.
“We’re at a place where those can be lifted at the city level,” Arwady said. “I, of course, remain supportive of businesses and other settings that continue them, particularly in the short term.”
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