Archdiocese of Chicago to lift school mask mandate in Chicago, Evanston and Oak Park

Outside of Queen of Martyrs Catholic School in Evergreen Park, parents and students hold up signs and flags calling for the end of the archdiocese’s mask mandate as well as in support of Principal M. Jacob “Doc” Mathius earlier this month. | Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times

As COVID-19 infections rates continue to fall, the Archdiocese of Chicago moved Wednesday to lift its mask mandate at all schools, beginning next week.

The decision comes one week after a south suburban Catholic school principal was fired after he refused to comply with the archdiocese’s mask mandate.