People wearing masks line up for a food drive in Brighton Park on Chicago’s Southwest Side on April 23, 2020. (WTTW News)

Gov. J.B. Pritzker liftedthe state’s mask mandatefor fully vaccinated residents on Mondayafternew guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Preventionsaid thatfully vaccinated peopleno longer needtowear masksto prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Illinois residents have been required to wear masks outside their homes since April 23, 2020.

All Illinois residents must continue to wear masks in hospitals and doctor’s offices as well as incongregate settingslike jails and long-term care facilitiesand onpublic transportation, according to the new rules.

The Illinois State Board of Education and Illinois Department of Public Healthcontinue torequire masks in schoolsand the Illinois Department of Children and Family Servicescontinues torequire masks in day carefacilities, officials said.

“Getting vaccinated is the ultimate protection from COVID-19 and the quickest ticket back to normal life,” Pritzker said in a statement. “With public health experts now saying fully vaccinated people can safely remove their masks in most settings, I’m pleased to follow the science and align Illinois’ policies with the CDC’s guidance. I also support the choice of individuals and businesses to continue to mask out of an abundance of caution as this pandemic isn’t over yet.”

Businesses can choose to require patrons and employeestowear masksand individualscan choose to wear a mask“out of an abundance of cautionas this pandemic isn’t over yet,”Pritzkersaid.

The new federal rules allow those who have received the final dose of a COVID-19 vaccineto stop wearing masks outdoors in crowds and in most indoor settings two weeks after their shot.In addition, those who are fully vaccinated do not have to maintain 6 feet of social distance from those outside their households, according to the new rules.

However, Mayor Lori Lightfoot saidshe will continue to wearamask,both indoors and outdoors,even though she is fully vaccinated.

The new rules have left people confused, Lightfoot said, calling onfederal officials to“clarify” the new rules.

Lightfoot said she was concerned because there is no way know whether someone is — or isnot —vaccinated.Approximately 38% of all Chicagoans have had at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, she added.

“We still have a long way to goin really hitting, I think, that critical mass or herd immunity,” Lightfoot said. “I don’t want people lulled into a false sense of security.”

Lightfoot can order stricter rules than Pritzker enforced in Chicago, although a spokesperson for the Chicago Department of Public Health told WTTW News on Friday thatcity health officials “expect to broadly follow this new CDC guidance across most settings”in Chicago.

Pritzker acknowledgedMonday morningthat the new rules rely“on people to do the right thing.”

“We are relying upon people to recognize that they don’t want to go infect other unvaccinated people and they don’t themselves want to get sick,” he said.

However, the CDC guidance cites studies that show vaccinated peopleare protected from COVID-19 and do not contribute to the spread of the virus. Those who are not fully vaccinated can spreadthe virus and are at risk of contracting it, federal officials said.

Pritzker saidMondaymorning was the first time he left his home without wearing a mask, but that he would continue to wear one in large groups, like the news conference.

“I’m going to take it, you know,gentlyand carefullygoing forward,” Pritzker said.“I do think the CDC’sguidelines aregoodones and we will follow them here in the state of Illinois.”

Contact Heather Cherone:@HeatherCherone| (773) 569-1863 |[email protected]