Reopening Chicago
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 III metric objectives have been achieved as of June 26 2020
This analysis presented on data through June 24, 2020
For detailed report: download Phase III Metrics Update Report.
For the most current daily COVID data, please see the Daily COVID Dashboard at chi.gov/coviddash.
Phase III: Cautious Reopening
Goal: Declining rate of new cases over 28 days and/or less than 200 new cases per day over 14 days
GO: Advanced Progress
|
Indicator |
Goal |
Current State |
Sub-Phase |
|
COVID-19 Case Incidence |
|
|
|
|
Citywide |
Stable or Declining |
Stable or Declining >28 days Daily New Cases: 159 |
GO: Advanced Progress |
|
Black |
Stable or Declining |
Stable or Declining >28 days |
GO: Advanced Progress |
|
Latinx |
Stable or Declining |
Stable or Declining >28 days |
GO: Advanced Progress |
|
White |
Stable or Declining |
Increasing 6/5–6/10 Stable or Declining 6/10-6/19 |
CAUTION: Monitor |
|
Asian |
Stable or Declining |
Declining > 28 days |
GO: Advanced Progress |
Phase III: Cautious Reopening
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 |
Stable or Declining >28 days |
GO: Advanced Progress |
|
Black |
Stable or Declining |
Stable or Declining >28 days |
GO: Advanced Progress |
|
Latinx |
Stable or Declining |
Stable or Declining >28 days |
GO: Advanced Progress |
|
White |
Stable or Declining |
Stable or Declining 20 days |
GO: Continued Progress |
|
Asian |
Stable or Declining |
Near-zero incidence for 23 days |
GO: Advanced Progress |
|
COVID-19 Deaths |
Stable or Declining |
Stable or Declining >28 days |
GO: Advanced Progress |
Phase III: Cautious Reopening
Goal: Stable or declining emergency department visits for influenza-like illness and/or COVID-like illness over 21 days
Caution: Monitor
|
Indicator |
Goal |
Current State |
Sub-Phase |
|
Influenza-like Illness ED Visits |
Declining |
Increasing (6/4 – 6/9) Stable (6/10 – 6/17) |
CAUTION: Monitor |
|
COVID-like Illness ED Visits |
Declining |
Stable or Declining >28 days |
GO: Advanced Progress |
Phase III: Cautious Reopening
Goal: < 7% citywide percent positivity based on tests conducted
GO: Advanced Progress
|
Indicator |
Goal |
Current State |
Sub-phase |
|
Percent Positivity |
<7% |
5.2% |
GO: Advanced Progress |
Phase III: Cautious Reopening
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 |
480 |
GO: Cautious Progress |
|
ICU Bed Occupancy |
<400 beds occupied |
162 |
GO: Cautious Progress |
|
Ventilator Utilization |
<300 being utilized |
101 |
GO: Cautious Progress |
Phase III: Cautious Reopening
Goal: Maintain testing >4,500 diagnostic tests conducted per day or increase to 6,500 diagnostic tests per day
GO: Cautious Progress
|
Indicator |
Goal |
Current State |
Sub-phase |
|
COVID Testing Capacity |
>=4500 tests per day |
5,056 tests per day |
GO: Cautious Progress |
Phase III: Cautious Reopening
Goal: Initiate 90% of case investigations within 24 hours of assignment
GO: Advanced Progress
CDPH is in the process of reassigning and training staff members and partnering with local organizations to expand contact tracing and case investigation capabilities across the city.
CDPH COVID-19 Moving from Phase III to Phase IV starting June 3 2020
| Stop: May need to delay moving ahead | Caution: Pause and monitor | Go: Cautious progress | Go: Continued progress | Go: Advanced progress | |
|
Cases |
Sustained increase >14 days |
Increase 0-14 days |
Stable or decrease 0-13 days |
Stable or decrease 14-28 days |
Stable or decrease >28 days and/or sustained <200 new cases per day (1 case per 10,000 persons) |
|
Hospitalizations |
|||||
|
Deaths |
|||||
|
COVID Emergency department visits |
|||||
|
Positivity rate |
>15% citywide |
13-15% |
10-13% |
7-10% |
<7% |
|
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 >5% of residents per month (>4500 tests/day); or increase to >6500 diagnostic 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