Further Easing of COVID-19 Business Regulations

Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot, the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) and the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) today 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% or 50 people per space. Additionally, bars and restaurants can now remain open until 1AM; alcohol sales from liquor stores and other establishments with a Package Goods license can  now continue until 11PM, and indoor fitness class size can increase to 20 people. As part of the established roadmap for a cautious and careful reopening, other regulations will remain in place for the time being, including the capacity limit  of no more than 50 people within any one space at bars, restaurants, events and other venues.

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

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

While Chicago continues to make significant progress in the fight against COVID-19, the City would like to remind all Chicagoans that we still remain in the midst of a pandemic, and it calls on everyone to take the safety precautions that helped us flatten the curve a second time mid-last year. Regulations requiring face coverings and social distancing remain in place at all businesses, and indoor residential gatherings remain limited to no more than 10 individuals.

For more information, you can always visit the City’s official re-opening portal, with specific industry guidance located here. Businesses can also self-certify that they understand and are meeting COVID-19 compliance. The West Loop Community Organization (WLCO) thanks everyone who has worked so tirelessly to keep our community safe, and we remain optimistic that our businesses will be able to further expand services as progress against COVID-19 continues.

COVID-19Guest User