ANNOUNCEMENT OF NEW ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY RULING
In recent days, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has announced emergency rules for businesses, schools, and child care establishments regarding the use of face coverings and the size of gatherings. Details of the emergency rule Control of Communicable Diseases Code (77 Ill. Adm. Code 690), may be viewed here. Governor Pritzker’s Press Release may be viewed here.
In summary, this ruling states that any business, service, facility, or organization shall take reasonable steps:
- to require employees, customers, and other individuals on the premises to wear a face covering
- to comply with group gathering size recommendations
The Facial Covering and Gathering Size Requirements and Restrictions, at this time, are as follows:
Please note that Individuals are not subject to any penalty — but are nevertheless required to wear masks in public.
If a business, service, facility, or organization open to the public is found to be in non-compliance by an enforcing entity, steps will be taken as follows:
- First, the establishment will be given a written notice of non-compliance by an enforcing entity encouraging the establishment to voluntarily make “reasonable efforts” to comply with public health guidance.
- Second, the establishment may be ordered to have some or all the people on the premises disperse if it does not voluntarily comply in a reasonable time after receiving a verbal or written notice.
- Third, any establishment that refuses to comply with a written order to disperse will be subject to the penalties set forth in Section 8.1 of the Department of Public Health Act, which could include a Class A Misdemeanor. For an establishment, the only possible penalty is a fine of between $75 and $2,500 for refusal to voluntarily comply after an opportunity to come into compliance.
These rules provide flexibility for local communities and a measured process to help keep people safe. The emergency rules outline the authority of IDPH and local health departments to investigate COVID-19 cases and reaffirm that businesses have a responsibility to cooperate with those investigations.
If the Village of Huntley receives a complaint regarding any business, service, facility, or organization, the initial contact will be made by the Village to discuss the complaint and to verify that appropriate steps will be taken to rectify the situation. The information will then be provided to the appropriate County Health Department for any necessary follow-up.
Please continue to take appropriate measures to inform individuals of the face covering rules as they enter your facility. Signage suggestions vary per industry, and may be viewed on the DCEO website via the following links: Phase 4 Guidelines and Guidance and FAQ's and subsequent revisions.
Businesses must also post the guidance from the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and Office of the Illinois Attorney General regarding workplace safety during the COVID19 emergency.
Additional resources are available via the following sites:
County Health Departments:
To discuss businesses north of Kreutzer Road contact:
McHenry County Health Department www.mchenrycountyil.gov Phone: 815.334.4510
To discuss businesses south of Kreutzer Road contact:
Kane County Health Department www.kanehealth.com Phone: 630-208-3801
Illinois Department of Public Health www.dph.illinois.gov/covid19
Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity www2.illinois.gov/dceo
State of Illinois Coronavirus site coronavirus.illinois.gov/s/