Latest Guidance

Holiday Guidance - The COVID-19 vaccines are by far the best way to protect yourself and your loved ones from the virus, and anyone who isn’t vaccinated should get one as soon as possible to be protected for the holidays. That includes children now that 5-11 year olds are now eligible for the Pfizer vaccine.

  • Fully vaccinated people can gather with others who have been fully vaccinated without restrictions.
  • The indoor mask mandate for public settings remains in effect for Chicago and Illinois. While this applies in public settings, if you are gathering with people outside your immediate circle or with people who are medically fragile, you should consider wearing a mask.
  • If you are not fully vaccinated you should consider not attending gatherings over the holidays. If you plan to do so, we encourage you to take a COVID test before the gathering, as well as mask and social distance when possible. To learn more please visit the CDC's Holiday Celebrations Guidance.
  • If you are sick or experiencing any COVID- or flu-like symptoms you should NOT attend any gatherings, even if you are vaccinated.
  • Fully vaccinated people can travel for the holidays. Individuals who are not vaccinated should consider delaying travel until fully vaccinated. If traveling is a necessity, unvaccinated people should follow the CDPH Travel Advisory guidelines.
  • These guidelines are in place to ensure safety among families during the Holidays. Do your part, and encourage others to protect themselves and their loved ones by getting vaccinated. To learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine and booster doses, visit chi.gov/covidvax .

For additional information, the latest CDC Holiday Celebrations Guidance details the safest ways to celebrate the holidays.

 

 

Large Gatherings: 

Currently, Chicago is in Phase 5, where capacity limits and social distancing requirements are no longer mandatory at most businesses. Effective August 20, 2021, masks are required in all public indoor settings, regardless of vaccination status. For more information please see the City Of Chicago's Large Scale Events Guidelines.

 

Businesses and Employers need to consider how best to decrease the spread of COVID-19 and lower the impact in their workplace.  For more information, see Chicago’s industry-specific guidelines for safely operating.

Employers should not require a sick employee to provide a negative COVID-19 test result or healthcare provider’s note to return to work. Employees with COVID-19 who have stayed home can stop home isolation and return to work when they have met the the following sets of criteria:

  • 10 days have passed since symptoms started (or since positive test if never had symptoms, 
  • No fever for 24 hours without taking fever-reducing medication, and
  • Symptoms are improving

We encourage you to use and share the following resources:

Congregate Living Facilities should implement universal masking policy and enhanced environmental cleaning. For more information, see CDPH Guidance for Congregate Living Facilities.

Homeless Shelters should aim to reduce the spread of COVID-19, minimize introductions of COVID-19 and mitigate the severity of COVID-19 in their facilities. For more information, see CDPH's Updated Guidance for Homeless Shelters as Chicago Reopens and the COVID-19 symptom screening tool.

Childcare Programs –In order to protect the progress we’ve made in Chicago to reduce COVID-19 transmission, childcare providers should follow the CDPH Interim Guidance on Management of COVID-19 Cases in Childcare Settings.

PreK-12 schools  must report all COVID-19 cases in students and staff to CDPH and follow CDPH Interim Guidance on Management of COVID-19 Cases in PreK-12 Schools. For COVID-19 mitigation strategies see CPDH Interim Guidance on COVID-19 Mitigation Strategies in PreK-12 Schools.  Schools should also follow guidance from IDPH and the CDC. 

Institutions of Higher Education should take measures to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission on campus. See CDPH Interim COVID-19 Guidance for Institutions of Higher Education.