Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot and the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) announced the further easing of COVID-19 regulations for Chicago businesses
Due to sustained progress in all four reopening metrics, effective immediately, indoor capacity at bars, restaurants and other businesses can increase to 50%.
Additionally, bars and restaurants can now remain open until 1:00 a.m., alcohol sales from liquor stores and other establishments with a Package Goods license can now continue until 11:00 p.m. and indoor fitness class size can increase to 20 people.
Under the framework released in early February, CDPH established four critical metrics that determine Chicago’s ability to move forward in the reopening plan. Today’s announcement is possible because Chicago has reached at least the “Moderate-Risk” level in all four of these metrics, and sustained that level for two weeks:
- COVID cases diagnosed per day: currently averaging 283, in the “Moderate-Risk” level.
- COVID test positivity: currently averaging 2.9%, in the “Lower-Risk” level.
- Emergency Departments visits for COVID-like illness: currently averaging 42 per day, in the “Lower-Risk” level.
- ICU beds occupied by COVID patients: currently averaging 103, in the “Moderate-Risk” level.
COVID-19 Regulations as of 3/2/2021
Restaurants, Bars and Events
- Can operate indoors at lesser of 50% or 50 people per space
- Larger establishments that can fit more than 50 people within a room at 50% capacity can use impermeable barriers such as plexiglass in order to divide rooms into multiple spaces. Provided that these spaces are fully divided by impermeable barriers, and that tables are six feet apart with no more than six people per table, establishments may have the lesser of 50% capacity or 50 people within each space.
- Food must be available at all times in order to offer indoor service
- Bars, taverns or breweries without a food license can reopen indoors as long as they ensure that food is always available. This can be done by making menus available and allowing delivery or allowing patrons to order from third-party delivery services.
- Table size limited to no more than six people indoors and outdoors with tables spaced six feet apart.
- Bar seating allowed with six feet between parties
- Patrons must be seated at all times while eating or drinking
- Face coverings must be worn at all times, except when seated and actively eating or drinking
- Outdoor service includes: Rooms with retractable roofs, Rooftops, Multi-party structures, such as tents, with at least 50% of walls open, Single-party structures, such as igloos, with proper ventilation, Tables within eight feet of a wall that is at least 50% open,
- Indoor events allowed at 50% capacity with no more than 50 individuals. Events must follow indoor dining guidelines
- Establishments must close for on-site service at 1:00 a.m. They may serve alcohol until that time provided that patrons are fully off-site by 1:00 a.m.
Health and Fitness Centers
- 50% capacity, with no more than 50 people in any one space
- Group classes of 20 or fewer can resume under the 50% capacity restriction, with six feet between patrons
- Locker rooms and showers can remain open if strict and frequent cleaning measures are in place
- Close ancillary accommodations, including saunas, hot tubs, and steam rooms, where social distancing is not possible
- Face coverings must be worn at all times
Indoor Recreation
- 50% capacity, with no more than 50 people in any one space
- Face coverings must be worn at all times
Movie Theaters and Performance Venues
- •50% capacity, with no more than 50 people in any one space
- •Face coverings must be worn at all times
Retail Stores
- 50% capacity
- Face coverings must be worn at all times
- Alcohol sales from establishments with a Package Goods license must end at 11:00 p.m.
Museums and Zoos
- 25% capacity
- Face coverings must be worn at all times
Personal Services
- 50% capacity, with no more than 50 people in any one space
- Face coverings can be removed only for services that require their removal
Places of Worship
- 50% capacity, with no more than 50 people in any one space
- Face coverings must be worn at all times
- Special events capped at no more than 50% capacity or 50 people, while following indoor dining regulations
All other regulations remain in place for these establishments, including:
- Food must be available at all times in order to offer indoor service. This means that bars, taverns or breweries without a food license can reopen indoors as long as they partner with a food establishment so that food is available to patrons at all times (e.g., making menus available and allowing delivery, allowing patrons to order from third-party delivery services).
- Maximum of six patrons at indoor or outdoor tables.
- Patrons can sit at bars, with six feet of social distancing between parties.
- Face coverings must be worn at all times, except when patrons are seated and actively eating or drinking.
- Patrons must be seated whenever they are eating or drinking.
- Tables must be six feet apart.
BACP will also continue conducting investigations in response to complaints and taking enforcement action in egregious and repeated cases. Since March, BACP has conducted 8,450 investigations and cited 435 businesses for violating COVID-19 violations.