CHICAGO — Illinois is requiring people to wear masks or face coverings in stores starting May 1 — and yes, businesses can force you to comply.

Gov. JB Pritzker said Friday businesses can and should refuse to serve customers who try to come in without covering their faces. People not following the face covering requirement are putting others at risk in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic, he said.

“You’re not allowed to go into a restaurant without wearing shoes; that’s another requirement people have. People who run restaurants have been able to tell people who are walking barefoot in their restaurants they’re not allowed to be there,” Pritzker said. “It’s perfectly acceptable to tell people you’re not allowed in if you’re not wearing a face mask.

“This person is being not just disrespectful to everyone in the grocery store, but also potentially infecting other people by not wearing a face covering.”

The Centers for Disease Control recommends everyone wear masks or face coverings when they can’t socially distance — like in stores — to prevent spread of coronavirus, especially because people can be asymptomatic and transmit coronavirus to others.

The state’s face covering requirement runs May 1-30.

The governor said people don’t need to buy a mask or face covering and can instead make one at home out of material they already have, like a T-shirt.

RELATED: You Must Cover Your Face In Illinois Starting May 1. Here’s What You Need To Know

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