Reopening Chicago
IMPORTANT CHICAGO REOPENING NOTICE
The State of Illinois has announced that Chicago can move to Tier 1 Mitigations, effective January 23, 2021. These restrictions are the most up to date and take precedence over the industry-specific guidelines if there are points of contradiction.
Click here to view all up-to-date Phase IV Capacity Guidelines
The following industries or activities may continue operating under the following regulations:
- Bars and Restaurants: Can reopen indoors at lesser of 25% or 25 people per space. Food must be available at all times in order to offer indoor service. Bars, taverns or breweries without a food license can reopen indoors as long as they partner with a food establishment (e.g., making menus available and allowing delivery, allowing patrons to order from third-party delivery services). Table size limited to no more than four people per indoor table and six people per outdoor table. Indoor events allowed at 25% capacity with no more than 25 individuals, while following indoor dining guidelines.
- Retail stores: 40% capacity
- Grocery Stores and Pharmacies: 50% capacity (note: big box store that sell a combination of general retail, groceries and/or pharmacies among other goods must operate at 40% capacity)
- Places of worship: Limit each indoor space to 50 individuals, while practicing social distancing, or 40% capacity (whichever is fewer). However, special events such as weddings, potlucks, and other community events are limited to 25% capacity with no more than 25 guests indoors and outdoors.
- Health and Fitness Centers: 40% capacity with no more than 50 people per space; group classes allowed with no more than 15 individuals per group; Locker rooms and showers can remain open if strict and frequent cleaning measures are in place; Close ancillary accommodations, including saunas, hot tubs, and steam rooms, where social distancing is not possible.
- Personal Services: Limit to 50 individuals or 40% capacity, whichever is fewer. If a service requires the removal of face coverings (e.g., facials, beard trimmings) employee must wear both a mask and eye protection (e.g. face shield, protective glasses). Physical, occupational and massage therapy allowed as deemed necessary by a medical provide.
- Outdoor Activities: Outdoor museums, performance venues and other outdoor activities can continue at 40% capacity with a maximum of 100 individuals. Group sizes are limited to 10 people or less, with total capacity limited to 100 people, while social distancing.
- Out-of-School Programs: Indoor group exercise or fitness classes capped at 10 individuals (e.g., dance, yoga). Programs in which participants are primarily seated/stationery may continue in cohorts of up to 15 people (e.g., painting, creative writing, homework help).
- Libraries: Considered an essential service as they support Chicagoans needing support with remote learning, job searching, temporary refuge for weather relief, securing needed benefits and resources. Libraries may remain open at 25% indoor capacity with protective measures in place to ensure the health and safety of the public and staff. See chipublib.org for more details.
Non-essential businesses must be closed to the public between the hours of 11:00 pm and 6:00 am
- Impact on liquor sales:
- Bars, restaurants and other establishments with a Tavern or Consumption on Premises-Incidental Activity license can sell alcohol on-site or to-go until 11:00 pm
- Liquor stores, grocery stores and other establishments with a Package Goods license must still cease alcohol sales at 9:00 pm.
- Restaurants may continue to sell food via delivery, takeout, or curbside pickup at all hours
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 December 29, 2020
This analysis presented on data through December 28, 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
GO: Continued Progress
Indicator |
Goal |
Current State |
Sub-Phase |
COVID-19 Case Incidence |
|
|
|
Citywide |
Stable or Declining |
Decrease (12/4-12/23) Daily New Cases: 1073 |
Go: Continued Progress |
Black |
Stable or Declining |
Stable or Decrease (12/2-12/23) |
Go: Continued Progress |
Latinx |
Stable or Declining |
Decrease (12/4-12/23) |
Go: Continued Progress |
White |
Stable or Declining |
Decrease (12/4-12/23) |
Go: Continued Progress |
Asian |
Stable or Declining |
Stable (12/4-12/23) |
Go: Continued Progress |
Phase IV: Gradually Resume
Goal: Stable or declining rates of cases resulting in hospital admissions and deaths (over 28 days)
CAUTION: Pause and Monitor
Indicator |
Goal |
Current State |
Sub-phase |
COVID-19 Hospital Admissions |
|
|
|
Citywide |
Stable or Declining |
Decline or Stable (12/10-12/23) Daily Admissions: 18 |
Caution: Pause and Monitor |
Black |
Stable or Declining |
Decline or Stable (12/10-12/23) |
Caution: Pause and Monitor |
Latinx |
Stable or Declining |
Decline or Stable (12/10-12/23) |
Caution: Pause and Monitor |
White |
Stable or Declining |
Decline or Stable (12/10-12/23) |
Caution: Pause and Monitor |
Asian |
Stable or Declining |
Decline or Stable (12/10-12/23) |
Caution: Pause and Monitor |
COVID-19 Deaths |
Stable or Declining |
Decreasing (12/10-12/23) Daily Deaths: 16 |
Caution: Pause and Monitor |
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 |
Decreasing or Stable |
GO: Continued progress |
COVID-like Illness ED Visits |
Declining |
Decrease (11/14-12/23) |
GO: Advanced progress |
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% |
9.4% |
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
STOP: May need to delay
Indicator |
Goal |
Current State |
Sub-phase |
Non-ICU Hospital Bed Occupancy |
<1000 beds occupied |
782 |
GO: Cautious Progress |
ICU Bed Occupancy |
<150 beds occupied |
268 |
STOP: May Need to Delay |
Ventilator Utilization |
<150 being utilized |
158 |
CAUTION: Monitor |
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 |
>=9000 tests per day |
14,977 tests per day |
GO: Advanced Progress |
Phase IV: Gradually Resume
Goal: Assign 90% of case investigations within 24 hours of receipt
GO: Cautious Progress
Indicator |
Goal |
Current State |
Sub-phase |
COVID Response Capacity |
>=90% of cases assigned within 24 hrs |
39% |
GO: Cautious 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 the past 28 days |
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% |
3% - 5% of all daily tests are confirmed positive |
<3% of all daily tests are confirmed positive |
<=1% of all daily tests are confirmed positive |
Hospital system capacity |
>1200 non-ICU beds >250 ICU beds >300 ventilators |
>1000 non-ICU beds >150 ICU beds >150 ventilators |
<1000 non-ICU beds occupied by COVID patients <150 ICU beds occupied by COVID patients <150 ventilators occupied by COVID patients |
<500 non-ICU beds occupied by COVID patients <75 ICU beds occupied by COVID patients <75 ventilators occupied by COVID patients |
<250 non-ICU beds occupied by COVID patients <50 ICU beds occupied by COVID patients <50 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 |
Stable testing >6750 total tests/day |
Stable testing >9,000 total tests/day |
Response capacity |
N/A |
N/A |
Investigation within 24hr for 50% of CDPH cases interviewed |
Investigation within 24hr for 75% of CDPH cases interviewed |
Investigation within 24hr for 90% of CDPH cases interviewed |
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