Latest Guidance

All Chicago residents should practice physical distancing, wear a face covering and wash their hands often. Everyone should self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms and stay home if they’re sick. For more information, see How to Protect Yourself.

Older adults and people with severe chronic conditions should take extra precautions because they are at higher risk of developing serious COVID-19 illness. For more information, see CDC guidance for people who are at higher risk.

Large or Extended Families - If your household includes people in these high-risk groups, then all family members should act as if they, themselves, are at higher risk. Follow CDPH's Guidance on How to Protect Yourself and the People You Live with from COVID-19.

Children - While children are not considered at high risk, they may have mild illness or not show symptoms, they can still spread the disease to others. It's important to follow CDC's recommendation for keeping children healthy while school's out.

Sick Individuals – Under Chicago’s March 18 Public Health Order, everyone who is sick with COVID-19 symptoms must stay home and self-isolate. For more information, see What to Do if You’re Sick.

Exposed Individuals – Individuals who feel healthy but recently had close contact with a person with COVID-19 should stay home for 14 days after their last exposure. Check your temperature twice a day and watch for symptoms of COVID-19. Follow CDPH guidance on steps to protect yourself and others.

Critical Infrastructure Workers – Critical infrastructure workers who have been exposed to COVID-19 can continue work following potential exposure to COVID-19, as long as they don’t develop any COVID-19 symptoms. See CDPH Guidance for Critical Infrastructure Workers.

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 within Phase III: Cautiously Reopen.

 

Childcare Facilities – In order to protect the progress we’ve made in Chicago to reduce COVID-19 transmission, as of July 13, 2020, our interim guidance now encourages notification for every case. For more information, see 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.

Intitutions of Higher Education should take measures to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission and ensure a safe return to campus. See CDPH Interim COVID-19 Guidance for Institutions of Higher Education (IHE).

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 associated Frequently Asked Questions. Also, see CDPH's COVID-19 symptom screening tool.