Many of us here in Northern Illinois may be giving our (at this point) substantial mask collections the old heave-ho, but not everyone in the state of Illinois is doing the mask-toss just yet.

I think it's safe to say that going forward, we'll definitely have some people who will mask up for the rest of their lives, but that will be a personal choice, not a governmental one.

Higienic mask on floor. Disposable hygienic mask. Conceptual hygiene
Getty Images
loading...
Getty Images
Getty Images
loading...

Out Of Illinois' 102 Counties, There Are 6 That Would Prefer Their Residents Keep On Masking

To be fair, recommending is different than mandating, but after two years of this, you may have noticed a little mask-fatigue here in Illinois. When Governor Pritzker set February 28th as his mask mandate deadline, I got several notes from listeners who pointed out that they'd ended their own personal mask mandate several weeks, if not months, earlier.

Large and detailed map of Effingham county in Illinois, USA.
Getty Images
loading...
Large and detailed map of Fayette county in Illinois, USA.
Getty Images
loading...
Perry County, Getty Images
Perry County, Getty Images
loading...

A Little More Than A Week Ago, There Were 21 Illinois Counties Being Asked To Continue Masking

Last Thursday, The Centers For Disease Control And Prevention (CDC), fresh from updating their county-by-county community levels map, said the COVID-19 metrics had greatly improved in over a dozen Illinois counties enough to lower mask recommendations to six counties.

Large and detailed map of Gallatin county in Illinois, USA.
Getty Images
loading...
Map on an old playing card of Johnson county in Illinois, USA.
Getty Images
loading...
Getty Images
Saline County, Getty Images
loading...

In the following Illinois counties (deemed "high-risk" counties), people are advised to wear masks in public indoor spaces, including schools, and take additional precautions if at risk for severe illness.

  • Effingham County
  • Fayette County
  • Gallatin County
  • Johnson County
  • Perry County
  • Saline County

20 Fascinating, Unknown Facts About the State of Illinois

Tiny Illinois Town is in Guinness Book of World Records 12 Times

One very small Illinois town has built themselves into a giant across the globe and I'll bet you didn't even know. Neither did I. A whole lotta wow going on.

More From 97 ZOK