Chicago Bars Must Close for Indoor Service, Restaurants Limited to Six Per Table, Effective 12:01 a.m. Friday, July 24
This morning, Mayor Lightfoot, the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) and the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) announced a re-tightening of COVID-19 restrictions for bars, restaurants, gyms and personal services as a precautionary move in response to a recent increase in community cases of the virus.
The reinstatement of certain restrictions will go into effect
Friday, July 24 at 12:01 a.m.
, in order to allow businesses time to prepare. Restrictions related to restaurants and bars include:
- Restaurants that serve alcohol will be allowed to continue to operate for indoor service as long as they abide by ongoing COVID-19 guidance and existing regulations.
- Current capacity restrictions remain in place for all restaurants - 25% occupancy per room - or 50 people per room (whichever is fewer).
- Maximum party size and table occupancy at restaurants, bars, taverns and breweries will be reduced to six people.
- All table seatings for indoor service, outdoor service, and private venues are limited to six people per table.
- Bars, taverns, breweries and other establishments that serve alcohol for on-site consumption without a Retail Food license will no longer be able to serve customers indoors.
- Establishments without food may still provide outdoor service as they did under Phase III.
Click here
to review the current Phase IV guidelines for restaurants in the city of Chicago.
BACP will be hosting a series of webinars this week to prepare business owners for this new guidance.
Click here
to register for a webinar for all business types Tuesday, July 21 at 2:00 p.m.
Click here
to register for a webinar for restaurants and bars Tuesday, July 21 at 4:00 p.m.
The IRA remains committed to ensuring that restaurants and bars in Chicago and throughout Illinois remain on a safe and steady path to reopening.
It is imperative that all operators, employees, and guests continue to adhere to the guidelines established by leading public health experts. Proper social distancing, wearing masks, proper PPE, and more are all critical to keep restaurants and bars open.
Click here
to download the Illinois Restaurant Promise for your establishments today.
Click here
to share the IRA's "Covered Faces Keep Open Places" graphic on social media.