Reopening Chicago
Where we are
Currently we are in: PHASE II
While we are still in phase two of the "Protecting Chicago" reopening framework, Mayor Lightfoot has announced that Chicago is on track to begin reopening cautiously on June 3 and move to phase three. 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
Criteria for Transitioning to Phase III
Epidemiological Markers as of May 28, 2020
Download the latest Protecting Chicago: Metrics Update.
Current Phase II: Stay at Home
Advanced Progress
Goal: Declining rate of new cases, based on incidence and/or percent positivity (over 14 days, based on a 7-day rolling average)
|
Indicator |
Goal |
Current State |
Days Reaching Goal |
|
COVID-19 Case Incidence |
|
|
|
|
Citywide |
Declining |
Declining |
15 |
|
Black |
Declining |
Stable or Declining |
26 |
|
Latinx |
Declining |
Declining |
16 |
|
White |
Declining |
Declining |
25 |
|
Asian |
Declining |
Declining |
23 of 26 |
|
|
|
||
|
Percent Positivity |
Declining |
Declining |
21 |
Current Phase II: Stay at Home
Advanced Progress
Goal: Stable or declining rates of cases resulting in hospital and/or ICU admissions and deaths (over 14 days, based on a 7-day rolling average
|
Indicator |
Goal |
Current State |
Days Reaching Goal |
|
COVID-19 Hospital Admissions |
Stable or Declining |
Declining |
13 |
|
COVID-19 ICU Admissions |
Stable or Declining |
Stable or Declining |
18 |
|
COVID-19 Deaths |
Declining |
Declining |
10 |
Current Phase II: Stay-at-Home
Advanced Progress
|
Indicator |
Goal |
Current State |
Days Reaching Goal |
|
Non-ICU Hospital Bed Occupancy |
<1800 beds occupied |
949 |
>55 |
|
ICU Bed Occupancy |
<600 beds occupied |
401 |
>67 |
|
Ventilator Utilization |
<450 being utilized |
261 |
>67 |
Current Phase II: Stay at Home
Advanced Progress
|
Indicator |
Goal |
Current State |
Days Reaching Goal |
|
COVID Testing Capacity |
>=4500 tests per day |
4,989 tests per day |
3 |
Current Phase II: Stay at Home
Progress
|
Indicator |
Goal |
Current State |
Days Reaching Goal |
|
Positivity Rate: Congregate Settings |
<30% positive |
15.2% |
14 |
|
Positivity Rate: Community Settings |
<15% positive |
16.2% |
Not attained |
Current Phase II: Stay at Home
Advanced Progress
Goal: Declining emergency department visits for influenza-like illness and/or COVID-like illness for 14 days
|
Indicator |
Goal |
Current State |
Days Reaching Goal |
|
Influenza-like Illness ED Visits |
Declining |
Declining |
27 |
|
COVID-like Illness ED Visits |
Declining |
Declining |
13 |
Current Phase II: Stay at Home
Progress
Goal: Expanded system in place for congregate and community investigations & contact tracing
Progress: CDPH is in the process of greatly expanding its contact tracing and case investigation capabilities. As was announced earlier this week, this includes a Request for Proposals in which the City has allocated $56 million in COVID-19 relief funding for community organizations in areas of high economic hardship to train and certify a 600-person workforce to support contact tracing.
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