Reopening Chicago
IMPORTANT CHICAGO REOPENING NOTICE
The following citywide updates will go into effect on Friday, October 23rd at 6:00 AM
- Business curfew on non-essential businesses beginning at 10:00PM
- In effect nightly from 10:00 PM-6:00 AM
- Last call for serving liquor at 9:00 PM
- Take-out and curb-side pick-up at restaurants still permitted
- Bars, breweries, and taverns without a food license are prohibited from operating any indoor service
- Increased emphasis of current guidelines
- Max. 6 people in your personal bubble (e.g., no household gatherings >6 people of non-household members)
- Face coverings in all indoor and outdoor public settings
As part of our Phase IV: Gradually Resume guidelines, these updates will go into effect Thursday, October 1 at 5:00 a.m. These restrictions are the most up to date and take precedence over the industry-specific guidelines if there are points of contradiction.
Updates include:
- Restaurants, health and fitness centers, and all other establishments that have been limited to 25% indoor capacity will now be able to increase their maximum indoor capacity to 40%
- The limit of 50 total individuals, while practicing social distancing, within one room or space remains in place
- Bars, taverns, brewers and other establishments that serve alcohol for on-site consumption without a retail food license may reopen indoor seating at 25% capacity or 50 people, whichever is fewer
- Service remains limited to no more than two hours per party, and all customers must be seated when eating, drinking or ordering – patrons cannot walk up to the bar to order
- The establishments must partner with a vendor to provide patrons access to food (e.g., mobile food trucks, partnerships with restaurants /catering services, shelf-stable pre-packaged food)
- Additional food service and bar updates include:
- When dining out at a food service establishment or bar, customers must wear face coverings while seated at all times (including when interacting with staff), except when actively eating or drinking
- When taking reservations and seating walk-in customers, restaurants and bars should retain an email and/or phone numberfor possible contact tracing
- Bars, restaurants and other establishments that serve alcohol will now be able to sell alcohol for on-site or off-site consumption until 1:00 am and may remain open until 1:30 am (liquor stores, grocery stores and other establishments that sell alcohol to-go through a Package Goods license must continue to cease alcohol sales at 9:00 pm)
- Maximum party size and table occupancy at restaurants, bars, taverns, breweries and event venues will remain at six people (indoor or outdoor)
- Maximum group size for health and fitness classes increased to 15 individuals, while practicing social distancing, or 40% capacity (whichever is fewer)
- Cohorts for out-of-school programs increased from 10 to 15 individuals
- Personal services that require the removal of face coverings permitted to reopen (e.g., facials, beard trims)
- Services are recommended to be kept under 15 minutes and the employee conducting the service must always wear a face covering
- All places of business should provide hand sanitizer for patrons and employees to use upon entry
- Residential property managers are asked to continue limiting guest entry to five additional people for single-member households such that total indoor gatherings and parties do not exceed six people
These restrictions, as part of Phase IV guidelines, are in effect until further notice. Continue checking this website for the most up-to-date information.
As part of Illinois’ Restore Illinois Phase 4 guidelines, revised guidelines for youth and adult sports will go into effect Saturday, August 15 at 12:01 a.m. Types of play are limited based on each sport’s risk level. Visit here for additional information.
Where we are
Currently we are in: PHASE IV
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.
PHASE I
STRICT STAY-AT-HOME
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
PHASE II
STAY-AT-HOME
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
PHASE III
CAUTIOUSLY REOPEN
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
PHASE IV
GRADUALLY RESUME
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
PHASE V
PROTECT
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 the COVID Coach web portal
PHASE IV Re-opening Metrics Update for October 24, 2020
This analysis presented on data through October 21, 2020
For detailed report: download Phase IV Metrics Update Report.
For the most current daily COVID data, please see the Daily COVID Dashboard at chi.gov/coviddash.
Phase IV: Gradually Resume
Goal: Declining rate of new citywide cases over 28 days and/or less than 200 new cases per day over 14 days
CAUTION: Pause and Monitor
|
Indicator |
Goal |
Current State |
Sub-Phase |
|
COVID-19 Case Incidence |
|
|
|
|
Citywide |
Stable or Declining |
Stable(9/17-9/23) Increase(9/23-9/30) Stable (9/30-10/4) Increase(10/4–10/16) Daily New Cases: 679 |
CAUTION: Pause and Monitor |
|
Black |
Stable or Declining |
Decrease(9/17-9/24) Increase (9/24-10/3) Increase(10/3-10/16) |
STOP: May need to delay |
|
Latinx |
Stable or Declining |
Increase(9/17-9/27) Increase (9/27-10/4) Increase(10/4-10/16) |
CAUTION: Pause and Monitor |
|
White |
Stable or Declining |
Stable (9/17-9/21) Decrease (9/21-9/25) Stable (9/25-10/4) Increase(10/4-10/16) |
CAUTION: Pause and Monitor |
|
Asian |
Stable or Declining |
Decrease (9/17-10/2) Increase(10/2-10/16) |
STOP: May need to delay |
Phase IV: Gradually Resume
Goal: Stable or declining rates of cases resulting in hospital admissions and deaths (over 28 days)
GO: Advanced Progress
|
Indicator |
Goal |
Current State |
Sub-phase |
|
COVID-19 Hospital Admissions |
|
|
|
|
Citywide |
Stable or Declining |
Below 19 avg. daily admissions for 30 days Daily Admissions: 17 |
GO: Advanced Progress |
|
Black |
Stable or Declining |
Below 6 avg. daily admissions for 30 days |
GO: Advanced Progress |
|
Latinx |
Stable or Declining |
Below 7 avg. daily admissions for 30 days |
GO: Advanced Progress |
|
White |
Stable or Declining |
Below 5 avg. daily admissions for 30 days |
GO: Advanced Progress |
|
Asian |
Stable or Declining |
Near-zero incidence for >28 days |
GO: Advanced Progress |
|
COVID-19 Deaths |
Stable or Declining |
Below 4 avg. daily deaths for 30 days Daily Deaths: 3 |
GO: Advanced Progress |
Phase IV:Gradually Resume
Goal: Stable or declining emergency department visits for influenza-like illness and/or COVID-like illness over 21 days
GO: Continued Progress
|
Indicator |
Goal |
Current State |
Sub-Phase |
|
Influenza-like Illness ED Visits |
Declining |
Increase(9/19-9/25) Stable (9/25-10/12) Decrease(10/12-16) Stable(10/16-10/18) |
GO:Continued Progress |
|
COVID-like Illness ED Visits |
Declining |
Increase(9/19-10/8) Decrease(10/8-18) |
CAUTION: Pause and Monitor |
Phase IV: Gradually Resume
Goal: Maintain less than 5.0% positivity among all tests performed
CAUTION: Pause and Monitor
|
Indicator |
Goal |
Current State |
Sub-phase |
|
Percent Positivity |
<5.0% |
6.7% |
CAUTION: Pause and Monitor |
Phase IV: Gradually Resume
Goal: Ensure adequate citywide hospital capacity to maintain normal operations and handle an increase in COVID admissions
GO: Cautious Progress
|
Indicator |
Goal |
Current State |
Sub-phase |
|
Non-ICU Hospital Bed Occupancy |
<1000 beds occupied |
360 |
GO: Continued Progress |
|
ICU Bed Occupancy |
<400 beds occupied |
103 |
GO: Continued Progress |
|
Ventilator Utilization |
<300 being utilized |
40 |
GO: Advanced Progress |
Phase IV: Gradually Resume
Goal: Maintain testing >4,500 diagnostic tests conducted per day
GO: Advanced Progress
|
Indicator |
Goal |
Current State |
Sub-phase |
|
COVID Testing Capacity |
>=4500 tests per day |
11,406 tests per day |
GO: Advanced Progress |
Phase IV: Gradually Resume
Goal: Assign 90% of case investigations within 24 hours of receipt
GO: Continued Progress
|
Indicator |
Goal |
Current State |
Sub-phase |
|
COVID Response Capacity |
>=90% of cases assigned within 24 hrs |
85% |
GO: Continued Progress |
CDPH COVID-19 Phase IV starting June 26 2020
| Stop: May need to delay moving ahead | Caution: Pause and monitor | Go: Cautious progress | Go: Continued progress | Go: Advanced progress | |
|
Cases |
Any sustained increase >14 days within phase |
Increase 0-14 days (in most recent 14 -day period) |
Stable or decrease 0-13 days (w/o increase in most recent 14- day period) |
Stable or decrease 14-28 days |
Stable or decrease >28 days and/or sustained <200 new cases per day (~100 cases per 100,000 persons) |
|
Hospitalizations |
|||||
|
Deaths |
|||||
|
COVID Emergency department visits |
|||||
|
Positivity rate |
>10% |
5-10% |
<5% |
<5% |
<5% |
|
Hospital system capacity |
>1280 non-ICU beds >480 ICU beds >360 ventilators |
>1000 non-ICU beds >400 ICU beds >300 ventilators |
<1000 non-ICU beds occupied by COVID patients <400 ICU beds occupied by COVID patients <300 ventilators occupied by COVID patients |
||
|
Testing capacity |
Unexplained decline in testing <4500 tests/day |
Explained decline in testing <4500 tests/day |
Stable testing >4500 total tests/day |
||
|
Response capacity |
N/A |
N/A |
Initiate case investigation within 24h of assignment for 50% of cases 75% of cases 90% of cases |
||
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