The Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) announced today that it will re-institute a face mask mandate for all indoor public settings as the average number of new daily cases of COVID-19 in Chicago surpasses 400. All individuals aged 2 and over, regardless of their vaccination status, will be required to wear a mask as of Friday, August 20, while indoors in public settings.

Masks are required in all indoor public settings, including bars and restaurants, gyms, common areas of condos and multi-residential buildings, and private clubs. Similar to previous mask mandates, masks can be removed at restaurants, bars and other eating/drinking establishments by patrons when they are actively eating and drinking. Masks can also be removed for certain activities that require their removal, such as beard shaves or facials. Additionally, masks can be removed by employees in settings that are not open to the public, if employees are static and maintaining at least six feet from all other individuals (office cubicles, for example).

Masks also remain mandatory on public transportation, in healthcare settings, schools, and correctional and congregate settings. The new public health order does not include capacity limits at public places, and masking remains optional in outdoor settings, where the risk of COVID-19 transmission is lower. Masks are recommended for unvaccinated individuals in crowded outdoor settings.

Because more than 70% of Chicago adults have received at least one dose of the vaccine, Chicago’s rates of COVID hospitalization and death are much lower than they were in 2020 at the same case rate.

Businesses seeking more information and guidance should visit Chicago.gov/reopening. The Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) will be holding webinars on Thursday, August 19th at 10:00 a.m. and Friday, August 20th at 1:00 p.m. to provide an overview of the mask mandate. To register for a webinar, please visit chicago.gov/businesseducation.

The Neighborhood Opportunity Fund is now open for grant applications, with more than $4 million in funding available for small businesses, non-profits and cultural institutions across Chicago’s West, Southwest and South sides. The deadline for applications is Friday, Sept. 24. 

The Department of Planning and Development (DPD) program supports private rehabilitation and construction projects that add economic vitality to neighborhood commercial corridors and support local needs. Grants of up to $250,000 are available.

The Neighborhood Opportunity Fund represents a key funding tool for Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot’s INVEST South/West initiative, which is marshaling more than $750 million in public and private investment to revitalize 12 commercial corridors across 10 South and West side neighborhoods.

Questions and comments will be accepted throughout the application process at [email protected].

Funds are limited and scholarships are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Eligible students can visit www.ccc.edu/ace to apply and connect with us. 

In brief, CompTIA Tech Career Academy’s IT-Ready course is a full-time program that leads individuals to get their A+ Certification, which is the industry standard for entry level IT jobs. Included in the tuition (financial assistance available to those that qualify) are the instruction fees, required equipment, course materials, exam vouchers, business, and soft skills (resume building, mock interviews) and access to our career services team, which, through our extensive network of employer partners, assists graduates in finding employment. Sign up or learn more at, CompTIATech.org.