Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker announced new statewide restrictions to contain COVID-19. The move to Tier 3 resurgence mitigations will start next Friday, November 20th.
Illinois to close casinos, slash store capacity, stop indoor sports as Coronavirus surges across state.
The state will return to “Tier 3” mitigation rules following a surge in COVID-19 cases that has led to hospitalizations increasing more than 170 percent in just one month.
This latest round of mitigations aims to limit gatherings and encourages residents to stay home as much as possible and follow proper safety measures when out in public.
Pritzker during a press conference said museums, casinos and theaters will need to close, and “we are asking you to choose Zoom instead of packing people in a room for Thanksgiving.”
It also includes various guidelines for:
Meetings, social events and gatherings (including weddings, potlucks, etc)
Limit in home gatherings to household members • Meeting rooms, banquet centers, private party rooms, private clubs and country clubs may not host gatherings • No party buses • Funerals are limited to 10 family members of the decedents, not including staff.
Bars and restaurants
All bars and restaurants close at 11pm and may reopen no earlier than 6am the following day • No indoor service • All bar and restaurant patrons should be seated at tables outside • No ordering, seating, or congregating at bar (bar stools should be removed) • Tables should be 6 feet apart • No standing or congregating outdoors while waiting for a table or exiting • No dancing or standing indoors • No tables exceeding 6 people • Reservations required for each party • No seating of multiple parties at one table • Indoor gaming terminals must suspend operations • Includes private clubs and country clubs.
Office
All employees who can work remotely should work remotely
Hotels
Hotel room occupancy should be limited to registered guests only, with the maximum allowance being the number of individuals permissible per existing fire code for each applicable guest room • Fitness centers should be closed, or operated only on a reservation model with capacity limited to 25% of the maximum occupancy for the room • Grab and go food allowed • Event and meeting space closed.
Manufacturing
Additional COVID training for all employees required even if previous training occurred • Operators should coordinate with IDPH to implement testing protocols and contact tracing, upon request, consistent with available testing supplies • All employees must wear face coverings at all times unless eating or drinking. Exemptions only for safety purposes. • Only manufacturing staff and key personnel allowed in facilities. Non-production employees must work remotely. Non-essential staff and visitors are not permitted. Exemptions only for critical equipment repairs, supply deliveries and safety reasons (“critical visitors”). • All critical visitors must have an Employee Health and Safety (EHS)-approved risk-assessment done in advance, including travel history, tracking, and temperature check prior to entrance. • Implement additional workstation realignment when feasible • Stagger and space shifts, and designate shift entrances and exits (when possible) to minimize interactions of employees across unique shift groupings • Station sanitation required at beginning and ending of shifts • Operators must suspend COVID-related incentive pay and promote staying home when sick or showing symptoms • Implement temporary leave policies to accommodate workers who are sick • Develop and implement safety protocols for employee travel vans to promote spacing, require face coverings, temperature checks, air circulation, and vehicle sanitization.
Retail (including service counters)
• Operate at no more than 25% capacity, including general merchandise stores, “big box” stores that offer groceries and pharmacy, and convenience stores • Grocery stores and pharmacies may operate at up to 50% capacity • Encourage delivery or curbside pickup options wherever possible • When in-store shopping is necessary, promote efficient trips and consistent circulation.