Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot and Public Health Commissioner Allison Arwady, M.D., announced today that the City will remove the mask and vaccine requirements for certain public spaces on February 28 to align with the State of Illinois’ previously announced plans to lift the statewide indoor mask mandate on that day. Masks will continue to be required in health care settings, on public transit, and in other congregate settings.
Read MoreMayor Lori E. Lightfoot, the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH), and the Chicago Department of Business Affairs & Consumer Protection (BACP) announced that any individual 5 years of age or older will be required to show proof that they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to dine indoors, visit gyms, or enjoy entertainment venues where food or drink are being served. This new requirement goes into effect on January 3, 2022.
Read MoreThe Chicago Department of Business Affairs will host webinars this week for an overview of the Chi Biz Strong Grants Program and Outdoor Dining Grants Program. The webinars will provide information about the grants, who can apply, and details regarding eligibility and applications to assistant applicants.
Read MoreMayor Lori E. Lightfoot announced the number of City employees who have confirmed their vaccination status, as well as those who are fully vaccinated, following the implementation of the citywide vaccination policy. The policy, announced in August, required all City employees to be fully vaccinated or report their vaccination status by October 15, 2021.
Read MoreMayor Lori E. Lightfoot announced that, effective October 15, 2021, the City of Chicago will require all City employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, joining many other major municipalities and government agencies in taking this important preventive step. While masking and social distancing requirements in the workplace remain, the best protection against COVID-19 is vaccination.
Read MoreFollowing updated guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and based on Chicago’s current local COVID-19 data, the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) is requiring that everyone age two or older, regardless of vaccination status, wear masks in public indoor settings, effective Friday, August 20, 2021. Masking remains optional in outdoor settings, where the risk of COVID-19 transmission is lower, though masks are recommended for unvaccinated individuals in crowded outdoor settings.
Read MoreAs COVID-19 infection rates across the state continue to increase and with a number of school districts not yet adopting CDC guidance on masking, Governor JB Pritzker and IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike today announced masks will be required for students, teachers, and staff at pre-kindergarten-12th grade schools and day cares across the state.
Read MorePlease be advised that, following updated guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and based on Chicago’s current local COVID-19 data, the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) now recommends that everyone over the age of 2, regardless of vaccination status, wear masks in public indoor settings. Masking remains optional in outdoor settings, where the risk of COVID-19 transmission is lower, though masks are recommended for unvaccinated individuals in crowded outdoor settings.
Read MoreThe U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is launching a streamlined application portal to allow borrowers with Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans $150,000 or less through participating lenders to apply for forgiveness directly through the SBA beginning August 4, 2021. Lenders are required to opt-in to this program.
Read MoreWith COVID-19 cases rising in all 50 states, the City has revised its Travel Advisory to include five places where coronavirus positivity rates have exceeded 15 in 100,000 — due mostly to the spreading of the SARS-CoV-2 “Delta variant.” Those locations are, in descending order of severity: Missouri, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, the Virginia Islands, and Nevada. Unvaccinated individuals traveling from the states or territories on the Orange list are advised — not required — to obtain a negative COVID-19 test result no more than 72 hours prior to arrival in Chicago or to quarantine for a 10-day period upon arrival.
Read MoreThe Chicago City Council passed Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot’s Chi Biz Strong Initiative, a legislative package that will provide much needed financial relief to thousands of businesses, cut red tape across numerous City processes and deliver new protections for workers and consumers. This initiative, comprised of two ordinances that passed City Council, will jumpstart Chicago’s recovery while addressing barriers to equitable economic growth that pre-date the pandemic.
Read MorePlease be advised that the statewide COVID-19 emergency health order has expired. For Chicago businesses, this means that all COVID-19 regulations are lifted effective immediately, however no establishment that holds a Package Goods License shall sell, permit to be sold or give away any alcoholic liquor between late-night hours as recently mandated by Chicago City Council.
Read MoreThe Chicago Department of Public Health announced the closure and planned decommissioning of a number of City-run vaccination sites, as it continues to focus on hyperlocal distribution to reach Chicagoans who still need their COVID-19 vaccine. More than 20 percent of the total COVID-19 doses administered in Chicago have been given at City-run vaccination sites – five Points of Dispensing (or PODs) at City Colleges of Chicago locations and at the United Center.
Read MoreThe Chicago Department of Public Health announced that its in-home vaccination program, Protect Chicago At Home, is now open to all Chicago residents age 12 and up. To encourage Chicago residents to take advantage of the program, Chicago-based Grubhub will donate gift cards valued at $50 to every household that chooses in-home vaccination.
Read MoreMayor Lori E. Lightfoot and the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) announced even more returning, new and reimagined summer cultural events across Chicago — plus artist lineups and other details for City programs previously announced as part of “Open Culture” — just one component of the Mayor’s “Open Chicago” initiative to safely and fully reopen the city. Check out the expanded list of activities!
Read MoreEffective today, Chicago is officially in Phase 5, a full re-opening of all activities. This move is now possible because local COVID-19 metrics are at record lows and over 50% of Chicagoans are at least partially vaccinated. The Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) will be holding a webinar on Monday, June 14 at 2PM to provide an overview of this guidance.
Read MoreAs of last week, the United Center began offering drive-thru vaccinations of the Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines only. As Chicago begins to close up its mass vaccination sites in favor of more targeted outreach, we wanted to take a moment to share resources with anyone who has not yet received their immunization.
Read MoreOn Tuesday, May 18, following guidance from the CDC and the State of Illinois, and recognizing how safe and effective the COVID vaccine is, the City of Chicago announced that it will no longer require masks for fully vaccinated people in most settings, including businesses. In alignment with federal and state guidelines, masks will still be required, regardless of vaccination status, in health care settings, schools, correctional/congregate settings and on public transportation.
Read MoreExpansion of Vaccine Exemption when Chicago enters the Bridge Phase of reopening on May 14, 2021, allows businesses to expand capacity for vaccinated patrons. In addition to the increased capacity that comes with the Chicago Bridge Phase, businesses will have the option of not counting fully vaccinated individuals towards COVID-19 capacity limits for all industries, among other updates.
Read MoreMayor Lori E. Lightfoot, the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE), Choose Chicago, and Chicago’s cultural community today announced “Open Culture” — the next phase of Open Chicago, the Mayor’s latest initiative to safely and fully reopen the city. Summer cultural events for Chicago residents and visitors alike will include a variety of activities and celebration as we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic.
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