As coronavirus metrics continue to fall across the city, Chicago eased some restrictions on Tuesday, increased the size of fitness classes, and extended bars and restaurants closing times.
City officials announced that indoor fitness classes can increase capacity to 20 people, or 50% capacity, with immediate effect. Other Chicago industries, such as bars and restaurants, entertainment venues, movie theaters, and personal services, can also be increased to half capacity, with no more than 50 people in a room.
Starting Tuesday, the curfew in bars and restaurants across the city has been extended from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. Alcohol sales in liquor stores and other establishments can also continue until 11 p.m. after being limited to a stop time of 9 p.m. for almost a year.
“We have made incredible strides over the past few weeks and months, and I thank our business community for their continued commitment to save lives,” Mayor Lori Lightfoot said in a statement. “I am thrilled that we have reached 50% capacity, but again I urge all of our businesses and local residents to double the functionality. We must remain diligent if we continue to move forward carefully and responsibly. ”
The following provisions apply to restaurants, bars and event rooms:
- Food must be available at all times in order to be able to offer an indoor service. This means that bars, taverns or breweries can be reopened indoors without a food permit as long as they work with a food company so that food is available to customers at all times (e.g. provision of menus and enabling delivery so that customers can from third party can order delivery service).
- A maximum of six guests at tables indoors or outdoors.
- Patrons can sit at bars, with six feet of social distance between the parties.
- Face covering must always be worn, except when guests are sitting and actively eating or drinking.
- Guests have to sit down when they eat or drink.
- The tables must be six feet apart.
“Chicago restaurants are ready and committed to serving more diners safely,” said Sam Toia, president and CEO of the Illinois Restaurant Association, in a statement. “These updated regulations are another step in the right direction, giving operators in our 77 neighborhoods the flexibility they need, protecting hospitality jobs and enabling companies to welcome more customers back with comprehensive public health measures.”
The expansion of the indoor service comes after the city has achieved at least a “moderate risk” in four health metrics.
These metrics and the current state of the city are as follows:
- COVID Cases Diagnosed Per Day: Currently an average of 283 in the area of “moderate risk”.
- COVID test positivity: Currently an average of 2.9% in the “lower risk” category
- Visits to the emergency room for COVID-like illness: Currently an average of 42 per day in the “lower risk” level
- Intensive care beds occupied by COVID patients: Currently an average of 103, in the “moderate risk” level
“We are on the right track and I congratulate the Chicagoans for continuing to do what is right to contain the spread of the virus,” said Dr. Chicago Department of Health commissioner Allison Arwady in a statement. “We have to keep going so that we can continue to reopen our city safely, intelligently, and do the things we love again.”
