Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced the city will end its mask mandate at the end of February, in line with the statewide date. The mandate requiring proof-of-vaccination will also end Feb. 28.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot remained non-committal about lifting Chicago’s mask mandate Feb. 28 in line with the statewide mask requirement for all Illinoisans. Lightfoot said the city is "making tremendous progress" bringing down COVID-19 cases but may keep the mandate in place.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker said he is “hopeful” Illinois could soon drop statewide pandemic protocols after COVID-19 dropped by half. His peers in Delaware, New Jersey and earlier Iowa dropped their mask mandates.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker teased Illinoisans in mid-October that he might lift the statewide mask mandate if new COVID-19 cases declined. But he recently pulled back on that hope, leaving Illinois as one of the few states with a statewide mask mandate.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker hinted Illinoisans could see indoor mask mandates lifted if state coronavirus transmissions continue to fall. He wouldn’t give a specific target.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced all Illinoisans age 2 and up are required to wear masks inside public spaces effective Aug. 30. All school and health care workers must be vaccinated against COVID-19 by Sept. 5, as must college students.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced a statewide mask mandate for Illinois schools, overriding local school boards.