Niles lifts executive directive on face coverings

Mayor George D. Alpogianis has issued an Executive Order (2021-01) lifting the Village of Niles mask-wearing mandate. This change comes in light of new mask guidance issued last Thursday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and this Monday by Illinois Governor Pritzker. The Village's change was issued on Wednesday, May 19, 2021 and takes effect on Thursday, May 20, 2021. The original Executive Directive requiring masks in Niles took effect on April 17, 2020.

With this local mandate lifted, Niles businesses and facilities will remain under the guidance of County, State, and Federal mandates. Governor Pritzker lifted the State's mask mandate for fully vaccinated residents on Monday. Currently, all Illinois residents – including those who are fully vaccinated – must continue to wear masks in hospitals and doctor's offices, as well as in congregate settings like jails and long-term care facilities and on public transportation, according to the latest State rules.

"The Village's mask-wearing directive was implemented at a critical moment in the pandemic when the State had not yet created its own mandate," said Niles Mayor George Alpogianis. "It served its purpose well. Now we've arrived at the moment where having a Village mask mandate conflicts with other guidance and rules, and creates an unnecessary layer of confusion. Our business community has suffered greatly throughout this pandemic. We need to do our part to help our businesses, and I have heard from them that they are ready for the ability to implement the less restrictive policies as laid out by the State."

Businesses can choose to still require that everyone wears a mask, even those who are vaccinated. Vaccinated individuals may also choose to continue wearing a mask. The Village urges the public to show patience and respect as the community adjusts to the changing mask protocol, and to honor any businesses' additional mask requirements. Out of an abundance of caution and to reassure employees and visitors, Village-owned facilities will continue to require all visitors to wear a mask for the time being.