Reopening Chicago
IMPORTANT CHICAGO REOPENING NOTICE
Chicago is currently in Phase 5.
In Phase 5, most mandatory COVID-19 regulations have been lifted, including capacity limits and social distancing requirements at most businesses. Effective August 20, 2021, masks are required in all indoor public settings, regardless of vaccination status.
Click here to view Phase 5 Guidance | Phase 5 Guidance Graphic | Haga clic aquí para ver la Guía de la Fase 5 | Large-Scale Event Guidance
Masks
Effective August 20, 2021, masks are required in all indoor public settings. Similar to previous mask mandates, masks can be removed at restaurants, bars and other eating/drinking establishments by patrons when they are actively eating/drinking while stationary. Masks can also be removed for certain activities that require their removal, such as beard shaves or facials. Additionally, masks can be removed by employees in settings that are not open to the public, if employees are static and maintaining at least six feet from all other individuals (for example, in office cubicles).
Operating Hours
Bars, restaurants and other establishments with a Tavern or Consumption on Premises-Incidental Activity license can resume normal hours of operation.
Public Gatherings Guidance
For public gatherings and events, it is recommended that event organizers require attendees to be vaccinated against COVID-19 or have a negative COVID-19 test no more than 72 hours prior to attending. To create a safer event, CDPH recommends checking documentation of vaccination or negative test status, if feasible. If vaccination or negative test status cannot be checked, CDPH recommends that all attendees, regardless of vaccination status, wear masks whenever social distancing cannot be maintained.
Where we are
Currently we are in: PHASE V
Throughout the COVID-19 crisis, we have been committed to basing our decisions on the science and data related to this disease and communicating our actions to the public in an open and transparent way. This chart shows how we plan to return to work and life as well as protecting our health during each phase.
How we determine the current phase
The details for each phase are being informed by economic and health data, and a combination of input from industry working groups, health experts and the public. The specific health criteria for transition between the latter phases will be established and released over the coming weeks to ensure the City is open and responsive to new data and information as it arises.
Goal is to limit interactions to rapidly slow the spread of COVID-19
Limit the amount of contact with others
WORK
Essential workers go to work; everyone else works from home
LIFE
Stay at home and limit going out to essential activities only
HEALTH
Physically distance from anyone you do not live with, especially vulnerable friends and family
Goal is to continue flattening the curve while safely being outside
(Guard against unsafe interactions with others)
WORK
Essential workers go to work; everyone else works from home
LIFE
Stay at home as much as possible
HEALTH
Wear a face covering while outside your home
Physically distance from anyone you do not live with, especially vulnerable friends and family
Goal is to thoughtfully begin to reopen Chicago safely
Strict physical distancing with some businesses reopening
WORK
Non-essential workers begin to return to work in a phased way
Select businesses, non-profits, city entities open with demonstrated, appropriate protections for workers and customers
LIFE
When meeting others, physically distance and wear a face covering
Non-business, social gatherings limited to ≤10 persons
Phased, limited public amenities begin to open​
HEALTH
Stay at home if you feel ill or have come into contact with someone with COVID-19
Continue to physically distance from vulnerable populations
Get tested if you have symptoms
Goal is to further reopen Chicago while ensuring the safety of residents
Continued staggered reopening into a new normal
WORK
Additional business and capacity restrictions are lifted with appropriate safeguards
LIFE
Additional public amenities open
Continue to wear a face covering and physically distance
HEALTH
Continue to distance and allow vulnerable residents to shelter
Get tested if you have symptoms or think you have had COVID-19
Goal is to continue to maintain safety until COVID-19 is contained
Continue to protect vulnerable populations
WORK
All businesses open
Non-vulnerable individuals can resume working
LIFE
Most activities resume with health safety in place
Some events can resume
HEALTH
Sign up for a vaccine on Zocdoc.com/vaccine or call 312.746.4835.
Based on our continued improvements, the city moved to the Chicago Bridge Phase in conjunction with the state on Friday, May 14th. This next step in our cautious and responsible reopening plan allows for an extensive expansion of capacity limits across industries that broadly align with state regulations – details are available on the reopening website and more information will be shared in the coming days to help businesses prepare for the new regulations. While we have made significant progress and are enthusiastic to take this step, we will only be able to fully reopen when we see continued improvement in COVID metrics and more widespread vaccine uptake. We call on all Chicagoans to get vaccinated as soon as possible and to continue following the safety precautions so that we can experience all that Chicago has to offer this summer. More information will be shared in the coming weeks regarding the City's plan for Phase Five.
PHASE V Re-opening Metrics Daily Update
For detailed report: download Phase V Metrics Update Report.
For the most comprehensive daily COVID-19 data, please see the Daily COVID-19 Dashboard at chi.gov/coviddash.
Phase V: Protect
Goal for Lower Transmission: Average fewer than 200 new COVID diagnoses per day in Chicago residents
| Current: High Transmission |
Phase V: Protect
Goal for Lower Transmission: Maintain average of less than 5% COVID test positivity in Chicago residents
| Current: Lower Transmission |
Phase V: Protect
| Current: Moderate Transmission |
Phase V: Protect
|
Current: Lower Transmission
|
Phase V: Protect
Goal for Lower Transmission: Average fewer than 100 ICU beds occupied by COVID patients in Chicago hospitals
| Current: Lower Transmission |
|
Very high transmission |
High transmission |
Moderate transmission |
Lower transmission |
Controlled transmission |
|
|
COVID-19 cases diagnosed per day Chicago residents 7-day rolling daily average |
800+
|
400 - 799
|
200 - 399
|
20 – 199
|
<20 |
|
COVID-19 test positivity Chicago residents 7-day rolling daily average |
10%+
|
6.6 - 9.9%
|
5.0 - 6.5%
|
2 - 4.9%
|
<2% |
|
Emergency dept visits with COVID diagnosis Chicago residents 7-day rolling daily average |
200+
|
150-199
|
50 - 149
|
10 - 49 |
<10 |
|
Non-ICU beds occupied by COVID patients Chicago hospitals 7-day rolling daily average |
1250+
|
750 – 1249
|
250 - 749 |
100 - 249 |
<100 |
|
ICU beds occupied by COVID patients Chicago hospitals 7-day rolling daily average |
400+
|
300 - 399 |
100 - 299 |
20 - 99 |
<20 |
Source: Chicago Department of Public Health
How we move between phases
Chicago is monitoring the answers to these four questions in order to decide when and how to reopen.
01 - Is the rate of disease spread across the city and surrounding counties decreasing?
- Tracking cases, hospitalizations, ICU admissions, testing, and deaths across city and region
- Monitoring cases over time by zip code, age, sex, race, and ethnicity (and direct resources where they are most needed)
02 - Does the city have the testing and contact-tracing capacity to track the disease and limit spread?
- Scaled-up testing across the city
- Tracking percent of positive tests
03 - Are there enough support systems in place for vulnerable residents?
- Shelters and housing for vulnerable populations
- Increased testing at nursing homes
- Food delivery and specific store times for senior citizens
- Food security for CPS students and meals through Greater Chicago Food Depository
04 - Can the healthcare system handle a potential future surge (including beds, ventilators, PPE)?
- Adequate ventilator and PPE supply
- Surge capacity for hospital and ICU beds
- McCormick ready for overflow