Effective immediately, the State of Illinois has determined that Chicago has made significant enough progress as a region in the fight against COVID-19 to move into Tier 2 Mitigations Measures.
Illinois’ health department announced that due to a change in staffing contracts, which increases hospital staffing across the state, Regions 8, 9, 10, and 11 can move from the most restrictive Tier 3 to Tier 2.
In addition, Regions 1 and 6 have met the metrics to move to Tier 1, and Regions 3 and 5 have met the metrics to return to Phase 4 of the Restore Illinois Plan.
Under these Mitigation Measures, which are set by the state, the following regulations are in place for Chicago:
Restaurants and Bars
• No indoor service
• Outdoor service allowed, including tables within eight feet of walls that are at least 50% open
• Indoor events of 10 people or fewer can resume if food is served and only in locations that are designated and typically used for private events only (i.e. banquet halls within restaurants)
• Face coverings must be worn at all times except when actively eating and drinking, tables must be six feet apart, and no more than six people per table
• All bars and restaurants must close at 11pm and may reopen no earlier than 6am the following day
Health and Fitness Centers
•25% capacity indoors
•Group classes of 10 or fewer can resume under the 25% capacity restriction
•Reservations are no longer required and locker rooms can reopen under capacity restrictions
•Face coverings must be worn at all times
Movie Theaters and Performance Venues
• Can reopen indoors at 40% capacity, with no more than 50 people in any one space
• Face coverings must be worn at all times
• Retail Stores
• Grocery stores and pharmacies can operate at 50% capacity, all other stores at 40% capacity
• Face coverings must be worn at all times
Personal Services
• 40% capacity, with no more than 50 people in any one space
• Face coverings can be removed only for services that require their removal
Indoor recreation
• Can reopen indoors at 25% capacity, with no more than 25 people in any one space
• Face coverings must be worn at all times
Places of worship
• 40% capacity, with no more than 50 people in any one space
• Special events capped at no more than 10 people
• Face coverings must be worn at all times
Event venues
• Indoor and outdoor events can resume, with no more than 10 people
• Face coverings must be worn at all times except when actively eating and drinking
The full reopening regulations in Chicago will be posted shortly on the City’s website at chicago.gov/reopening.
BACP will hold a webinar on the new Mitigation Measures set by the State this Thursday, January 21st, at 2:00 pm. To register and learn more visit chicago.gov/businesseducation.
Please note that Chicago was able to move to Tier 2 Mitigation Measures because the State of Illinois has removed the requirement that regions have greater than 20% capacity in medical/surgical beds.
In order to move to Tier 1 Mitigation Measures, which would allow limited indoor dining at 25% capacity and no more than 25 people, Chicago will need to meet the following criteria:
• A test positivity rate between 6.5 and 8% for three consecutive days as measured by the 7-day rolling average (currently NOT meeting this metric); AND • Greater than 20% percent available staffed ICU hospital beds for three consecutive days, on a 7-day rolling average (currently meeting this metric); AND
• No sustained increase in the number of COVID-19 patients in the hospital in 7 out of the last 10 days, on a 7-day average (currently meeting this metric)
For a full overview of the statewide plan to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, read the Restore Illinois Mitigation Plan here.
You can follow Chicago’s continued progress in reaching the metrics that the state has set to continue reopening, please visit IDPH’s website.