Expanded Reopening Plan
Yesterday, Governor Pritzker held a press conference announcing an expanded reopening plan for Illinois. It is important to note that this plan does not currently affect the City of Chicago. The City of Chicago is expected to issue new guidance early next week. Cook County typically aligns its guidance with the City of Chicago.
OUTSIDE OF CHICAGO
Under the current Phase 4 guidelines, seating capacity in restaurants remains the same. Patrons must be 6ft apart and parties must be 10 or less. Standing areas remain at 25% capacity. Your seating capacity is NOT affected by whether or not patrons have been fully vaccinated or have had a negative test within the past 1-3 days.
Event venues and restaurant private dining rooms, who are hosting indoor social events, may currently serve the lesser of 50 people or 50% capacity. Social events being held outdoor may serve the lesser of 100 people or 50% capacity. For these social events capacity can increase immediately if individuals have proof of full vaccination or a negative COVID test 1-3 days prior to an event. We have asked the state for guidance on how these records are to be maintained and by who. All guests, regardless of a full vaccination or a negative test, must still follow social distancing guidelines, be seated 6 ft. apart and wear a mask.
Once 70% of residents 65 and older statewide have received their first dose of the vaccine and no increase in COVID-19 metrics is recorded, the state will move into the new Bridge Phase (4B). Click here to read the full Bridge Phase guidelines.
Please check with your local municipalities to confirm they are implementing the state’s new guidance.
CITY OF CHICACO
As of today, there has been NO CHANGE to the City of Chicago regulations. Seated areas in dining rooms remain at 50% capacity or 50 people within one room or space, whichever is less. Patrons must be seated 6ft apart and parties must be 6 people or less. Restaurants may use impermeable barriers, such as plexiglass, in order to divide rooms into multiple spaces.
For event venues and restaurant private dining rooms, indoor social events are allowed at 50% capacity with no more than 50 individuals total, while following all indoor dining guidelines.
The state provision, mentioned above, that allows for increased capacity at social events for individuals with proof of full vaccination or a negative COVID test 1-3 days prior DOES NOT currently apply in Chicago.
Hear Sam Toia discuss the new Bridge Phase
here.
