Coronavirus: Deerfield Order Requires Face Coverings In Public

DEERFIELD, IL — A supplemental order requiring the use of face coverings in public areas in Deerfield to reduce the spread of coronavirus was issued by Mayor Harriet Rosenthal during a teleconferenced village board meeting on Monday. The order takes effect on Wednesday and requires all persons over the age of five will be required to wear face covering when working in or patronizing essential businesses, taking public transportation like taxis or rideshares, working in or visiting an indoor construction site or performing professional landscaping services.

Appropriate face coverings can include non-medical masks, scarves, bandanas or handkerchiefs. Rosenthal is advising residents to save N95 and medical-grade masks for medical providers and first responders.

"We are used to seeing smiles as we shop and go about taking care of chores," Rosenthal said in a newsletter. "I encourage you to think of face coverings as a different kind of smile."

Homemade cloth face coverings should fit snugly but comfortably against the side of the face, be secured with ties or ear loops, include multiple layers of fabric, allow for unrestricted breathing and be able to launder or machine-dried without damage, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

Deerfield joins a number of Chicago-area municipalities that have issued similar orders requiring face coverings in public, including Northbrook, Skokie and Glenview.

Illinois Coronavirus Update April 21: 30,357 Cases; 1,290 Deaths

Deerfield Patch continues to write human-interest profiles on Deerfield-area businesses during the ongoing health crisis. Deerfield Patch has a simple online survey for local small businesses to fill out to let everyone know they are open and their current hours of operation. About a dozen Deerfield businesses have been added to Patch's list so far.

If you want to add your business to Deerfield Patch's list of open and closed businesses, you can do so here.

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