WEST LOOP COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION: Chicago Moves To Tier 1 COVID-19 Mitigations

West Loop Community Organization issued the following announcement on Jan. 23.

Please be advised that, effective immediately, Chicago has moved to the Tier 1 Mitigations Measures set by the State of Illinois. See below for an overview of these new mitigations, which are in effect as of 9AM, Saturday, January 23, 2021.

Additionally, to help businesses navigate these new mitigations, the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) will be holding two webinars this week. Join in on Monday, January 25 at 2PM for “Overview of the Tier 1 Mitigation Measures” and Tuesday, January 26 at 2PM for “Overview of the Tier 1 Mitigation Measures for Restaurants and Bars.” Register and learn more at www.chicago.gov/businesseducation.

Overview of Tier 1 Mitigation Measures

Restaurants and Bars:

• Can reopen indoors at lesser of 25% or 25 people per space.
• Food must be available at all times in order to offer indoor service. This means that bars, taverns or breweries without a food license can reopen indoors as long as they partner with a food establishment so that food is available to patrons at all times (e.g., making menus available and allowing delivery, allowing patrons to order from third-party delivery services).
• Table size limited to no more than four people per indoor table and six people per outdoor table
• Outdoor service can continue under existing regulations, including tables that are within eight feet of walls that are at least 50% open
• Face coverings must be worn at all times, except when patrons are seated and actively eating or drinking
• Patrons must be seated whenever they are eating or drinking
• Tables must be six feet apart
• Indoor service limited to no more than two hours
• All bars and restaurants must close at 11PM for on-site service and pick-up/delivery of alcohol. Pick-up and delivery of food can continue after 11PM.

Event Venues:

• Events are limited to the lesser of 25 guests or 25% of overall room capacity both indoors and outdoors
• Indoor events can serve food or drinks, but indoor service guidelines must be followed:
• Face coverings must be worn at all times, except when patrons are seated and actively eating or drinking
• Four people per indoor table
• Patrons must be seated whenever they are eating or drinking
• Tables must be six feet apart
• Indoor events must end at 11PM

Health and Fitness Centers:

• Indoor capacity increased to 40%, with no more than 50 people within one area
• Group classes of 15 or fewer can resume under the 40% capacity restriction
• Face coverings must be worn at all times

Indoor recreation:

• Indoor capacity increased to the lesser of 40% or 50 people
• Face coverings must be worn at all times

Movie Theaters and Performance Venues: No capacity change from Tier 2 to Tier 1

• Can operate indoors at 40% capacity, with no more than 50 people in any one space
• Face coverings must be worn at all times

Retail Stores: No capacity change from Tier 2 to Tier 1

• Grocery stores and pharmacies can operate at 50% capacity, all other stores at 40% capacity
• Face coverings must be worn at all times

Museums: No capacity change from Tier 2 to Tier 1

• Can operate indoors at 40% capacity
• Guided tours limited to 50 people
• Groups limited to 10 people
• Face coverings must be worn at all times

Personal Services: No capacity change from Tier 2 to Tier 1

• Can operate 40% capacity, with no more than 50 people in any one space
• Face coverings can be removed only for services that require their removal

Places of worship: No capacity change from Tier 2 to Tier 1

• Can operate at 40% capacity, with no more than 50 people in any one space
• Special events capped at no more than 25 people
• Face coverings must be worn at all times

To track Chicago’s continued progress in the fight against COVID-19 and for more details on the state-imposed mitigation measures, visit IDPH’s website here. In order to continue loosening restrictions and move to Phase Four locally, we need to meet the following metrics set by the State of Illinois:

• A test positivity rate less than or equal to 6.5% for three consecutive days as measured by the 7-day rolling average (currently NOT meeting this metric); and
• Greater than 20% percent available staffed ICU hospital beds for three consecutive days, on a 7-day rolling average (currently meeting this metric); and
• No sustained increase in the number of COVID-19 patients in the hospital in 7 out of the last 10 days, on a 7-day average (currently meeting this metric)

Now is the time to double-down on what works to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and to keep our businesses open. The City will continue to enforce these new regulations — particularly the rules for limited indoor service at bars and restaurants. Please continue to wear face coverings whenever possible, maintain social distancing, avoid gatherings, and follow all regulations closely.

The West Loop Community Organization (WLCO) thanks you for your ongoing commitment to following COVID-19 regulations so that we as a city can make progress in the fight against this deadly virus.

Original source can be found here.