West Loop Community Organization issued the following announcement on June 22.
Mayor Lightfoot and the Chicago Department of Public Health announced that Chicago is ready to move to phase four of the “Protecting Chicago” reopening framework on Friday, June 26. Under this phase, most Chicago businesses can open under limited capacity with appropriate safeguards in place. Specifically, most businesses will be subject to a 25% capacity limit, with a maximum of 50 people in indoor spaces and 100 outdoors. Furthermore, face coverings are required in most circumstances, along with a maintenance of six feet of social distancing. Please visit chicago.gov/reopening for an overview of all the phase four guidelines.
While Chicago is transitioning to phase four on the same day as the rest of the State, please note that the phase four guidelines in Chicago are stricter than some of the State-issued guidelines. As a dense city of 2.7 million people, Chicago has experienced a larger COVID-19 breakout than the rest of the State and it is critical that our reopening takes extra safety precautions. While significant progress has been made to bring our total cases per day under 200, we are still at a moderate-high level of new cases. Gathering sizes and capacity limits can more safely increase once Chicago has fewer than 100 new cases per day. Visit the Chicago COVID Daily Dashboard for the latest health data.
Individual industry guidelines are available on the City's official Coronavirus Response Center. Each industry has its own recommended procedures to help keep you safe. The earliest industry sub-sectors allowed to open at limited capacity during Phase 3 are:
- Food Service and Bars
- Indoor dining allowed at 25% capacity, with a maximum of 10 people per table and 50 customers in a room/floor
- Face coverings worn by customers and employees, except when seated and eating/drinking
- All patrons must be seated while eating/drinking
- Event spaces and all establishments that sell food or beverages for on-site consumption should follow the Food Service and Bars guidelines
- Health and Fitness
- Indoor activity and indoor classes can resume at 25% capacity, with a maximum of 50 customers in a room/floor
- Face coverings worn by all customers and employees indoors- they can be removed for outdoor classes, provided that social distancing is in place
- Indoor sports limited to no more than 6 people
- Youth/amateur contact sports allowed outdoors if no more than 50 participants (including players, referees and coaches)
- Personal Services
- Services can be provided at 25% capacity
- Face coverings worn by all employees and customers- can be removed by customers only during services that require their removal (i.e. beard shave)
- Retail
- Limited to 25% capacity at non-essential retail and 50% capacity at essential retail
- Face coverings worn at all times by employees and customers
- Movie Theaters and Performance Venues
- Can reopen indoors, limited to 25% capacity with a maximum of 50 individuals per space or room (i.e. one theater)
- A venue may have multiple gatherings of 50 individuals in a single theater (not to exceed 25% seating capacity) if the following accommodations are in place:
- The separate groups are clearly delineated and separated by different levels/floors (e.g., balconies);
- The separate groups have dedicated entrances and exits; AND
- The separate groups have dedicated restroom facilities
- Face coverings worn by employees and customers- they can be removed by customers when seated and eating/drinking
- Face coverings not required for actors and/or performers while performing
- All customers must be seated, with six feet of social distancing in place
For everyone else, it is imperative we continue all health and safety practices, including staying home as much as possible, wearing face coverings, and social distancing whenever you are able. If you choose to not observe these guidelines, you may be refused service at re-opened businesses. These practices will help protect you and your community:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
- Stay home as much as possible and avoid close contact with others
- If your'e sick, stay home, except to seek medical care
- Put 6-feet of distance between yourselves and others when in public
- Wear a cloth face covering when indoors or when you are unable to maintain 6-feet of distance from others
- Clean and disinfect frequently whatever surfaces and objects you most often interact with, especially when returning home.
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) reported 26 new deaths yesterday and 462 new confirmed cases of coronavirus disease. The preliminary seven-day statewide positivity for cases as a percent of total test from June 15–June 21 is 2 percent.
Original source can be found here.
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