Mask Mandate Is Back At Illinois Driver’s License Facilities

When the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) says that it is fully adopting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) new masking guidelines, it's a pretty safe bet that others will follow suit.

Based on some of the announcements made over the last 48 hours, that's exactly what's happening here.

Areas With "Substantial levels" of Transmission of COVID-19 Are To Mask Up

The IDPH called on residents of counties with substantial levels of transmission (50 to 99 cases per 100,000 people over a 7-day period) to put on a mask indoors, whether you've been vaccinated or not.

The CDC says that Winnebago, Boone, Carroll, and McHenry Counties fit the bill for areas with substantial transmissions. Ogle, Stephenson, Jo Daviess, and Whiteside Counties are listed as "moderate." (click here for the CDC's complete Illinois County-by-County map)

Most of the "High Levels of Transmission" counties are located in the southern two-thirds of the state.

All Illinois Secretary of State Driver's License Facilities Require Masks

Starting on Monday, all customers and employees in SOS facilities will be required to wear a mask in buildings. That includes driver services facilities and the Illinois State Capitol Building.

More And More Colleges And Universities Are Requiring Vax/Masks

Across the country, nearly 600 colleges and universities have added vaccine/mask mandates for new and returning students. 18 of those institutions are located here in Illinois (list compiled by patch.com):

Columbia College Chicago
DePaul University, Chicago
Dominican University, River Forest
Elmhurst University, Elmhurst
Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago
Knox College, Galesburg
Lake Forest College, Lake Forest
Lewis University, Romeoville
Loyola University Chicago
Northern Illinois University, DeKalb
Northwestern University, Evanston
Roosevelt University, Chicago
Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago
School of the Art Institute Chicago, Chicago
University of Chicago
University of Illinois at Chicago
University of Illinois at Springfield
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Photos From COVID style Drive-In Concert At Soldier Field Featuring Dark Star Orchestra

LOOK: Answers to 30 common COVID-19 vaccine questions

While much is still unknown about the coronavirus and the future, what is known is that the currently available vaccines have gone through all three trial phases and are safe and effective. It will be necessary for as many Americans as possible to be vaccinated in order to finally return to some level of pre-pandemic normalcy, and hopefully these 30 answers provided here will help readers get vaccinated as soon they are able.