2021 Session Update #9

 

FEBRUARY 2, 2021

Over the last week, all but one region has moved out of the Tier 2 mitigations (only Region 4 remains in Tier 2).  We wanted to update you on the current breakdown of where each region is  and the guidelines currently applicable to each region. The current breakdown is as follows:

 

• Tier 2: Region 4 (Metro East)
  • Bars
    • All bars close at 11pm and may reopen no earlier than 6am the following day
    • No indoor service
    • All bar patrons should be seated at tables outside
    • No ordering, seating, or congregating at bar (bar stools should be removed)
    • Tables should be 6 feet apart
    • No standing or congregating indoors or outdoors while waiting for a table or exiting
    • No dancing or standing indoors
    • Reservations required for each party
    • No seating of multiple parties at one table
    • No tables exceeding 6 people
  • Restaurants
    • All restaurants close at 11pm and may reopen no earlier than 6am the following day
    • No indoor dining or bar service
    • Tables should be 6 feet apart
    • No standing or congregating indoors or outdoors while waiting for a table or exiting
    • Reservations required for each party
    • No seating of multiple parties at one table
    • No tables exceeding 6 people
  • Meetings, social events and gatherings (including weddings, funerals, potlucks, etc.)
    • Limit to 10 guests in both indoor and outdoor settings
    • Applicable to professional, cultural and social group gatherings.
    • Not applicable to students participating in-person classroom learning, sports or polling places.
    • This does not reduce the overall facility capacity dictated by general business guidance such as office, retail, etc.
    • No party buses
    • Gaming and Casinos close at 11:00pm, are limited to 25 percent capacity, and follow mitigations for bars and restaurants, if applicable
  • Organized group recreational activities (including sports, but excluding fitness centers)
    • Limit to lesser of 25 guests or 25% of overall room capacity both indoors & outdoors
    • Groups limited to 10 or fewer people
    • All Sports Guidance effective August 15, 2020, remains in effect
    • Outdoor Activities (not included in the above exposure settings) continue per current DCEO guidance
  • Tier 2 COVID-19 Resurgence Migitations (illinois.gov)

 

• Tier 1: Region 8 (DuPage and Kane), Region 9 (Lake and McHenry), and Region 10 (Cook)
  • Restaurants and Bars
    • All bars and restaurants close at 11pm and may reopen no earlier than 6am the following day
    • Indoor service limited to the lesser of 25 guests or 25% capacity per room
    • Establishments offering indoor service must serve food
    • Indoor service reservations limited to 2-hour maximum duration and maximum 4 persons per party (dining only with members of the same household recommended)
    • All bar and restaurant patrons should be seated at tables
    • No ordering, seating, or congregating at bar (bar stools should be removed)
    • Tables should be 6 feet apart
    • No standing or congregating indoors or outdoors while waiting for a table or exiting
    • No dancing or standing indoors
    • Reservations required for each party
    • No seating of multiple parties at one table
    • Includes private clubs and country clubs
  • Meetings, social events and gatherings (including weddings, funerals, potlucks, etc.)
    • Limit to lesser of 25 guests or 25% of overall room capacity both indoors and outdoors
    • Applicable to professional, cultural and social group gatherings.
    • Not applicable to students participating in-person classroom learning, or sports.
    • This does not reduce the overall facility capacity dictated by general Phase 4 business guidance such as office, personal care, retail, etc.
    • No party buses
  • Organized group recreational activities (fitness centers, sports, etc.)
    • Sports should follow the mitigation measures set forth in the All Sport Guidelines, which outlines appropriate levels of practice and competition based on individual sport risk
    • Face coverings must be worn at all times in fitness centers, including while engaged in individual exercise regardless of person or machine spacing
    • Recreation, fitness centers and outdoor activities (not included in the above exposure settings) follow Phase 4 guidance
  • Tier 1 COVID-19 Resurgence Mitigations – (illinois.gov)

 

• Phase 4: Region 1 (North), Region 2 (North Central), Regions 3 (West Central), Region 5 (Southern) and Region 6 (East Central), Region 7 (Suburban Cook), and Region 11 (Chicago)
  • ALL INDUSTRIES
    • All employees who can work from home should continue to do so
    • Continue to wear face covering that covers nose and mouth, maintain social distance of 6 ft., and frequently wash hands
    • Continue employee health screenings upon entry into the workplace and mid-shift screenings for employees with shifts >5 hours (virtual screening permitted)
    • Follow guidelines on capacity limits and group sizes (to be continually reassessed throughout Phase 4)
  • FILM PRODUCTION
    • Capacity limit of no more than 50% of sound stage/location occupancy
    • Crowd scenes should be limited to 50 people or fewer
    • All individuals should maintain 6 ft. of social distancing unless job duty cannot be performed without proximity (e.g. actors performing, hair, makeup, costumes)
    • One-time nasal swab for RT-PCR testing of all cast and crew should be obtained within 48 to 72 hours prior to the start of work on set or location
    • Craft services and catering should follow Restaurant and Bar guidelines
    • Live audiences permitted in line with Theatre/Performing Arts guidelines
  • HEALTH AND FITNESS
    • Capacity limit of no more than 50% occupancy
    • Group fitness classes of up to 50 people with at least 6 ft. social distancing between individuals permitted; multiple groups permitted given facilities have space to appropriately social distance and can limit interaction between groups
    • Workout stations and equipment should be 6 ft. apart without barriers or 3 ft. apart with impermeable barriers in between
    • For open gym spaces, have 1 employee per every 4,000 sq. ft. to monitor social distancing and sanitize equipment between use
    • Sanitize equipment before and after each individual use and sanitize locker rooms and showers at least every hour
    • Keep ancillary accommodations (e.g., saunas, hot tubs, steam rooms) closed, though childcare areas are permitted to reopen in line with DHFS childcare guidelines
  • MUSEUMS
    • Capacity limit of no more than 25% occupancy
    • Guided tours should be limited to 50 or fewer people per group
    • Audio tours are permitted, though equipment should be disinfected before and after individual use
    • Museums should have plan to limit congregation via advance ticket sales and timed ticketing
    • Concessions permitted with restrictions
  • INDOOR/OUTDOOR RECREATION
    • Reopening select indoor recreation facilities (e.g., bowling alleys, skating rinks); indoor playgrounds and trampoline parks should remain closed
    • Indoor recreation to operate at lesser of 50 customers or 50% of facility capacity
    • Outdoor recreation allowing group sizes of up to 50, and permitting multiple groups given facilities have space to appropriately social distance and can limit interaction between groups
    • Activity stations should be spaced at least 6 ft. apart or limited in number to ensure social distancing
    • Shared equipment should be disinfected before and after each use
    • Clubhouses and other communal gathering places allowed to reopen
    • Concessions permitted with restrictions
  • MANUFACTURING
    • Employees must receive COVID training before returning to work
    • All employers should have a wellness screening program. Employers should conduct in-person COVID-19 screening of employees upon entry and a mid-shift screening if employee shift is greater than 5 hours
    • Stagger and space shifts, and designate shift entrances and exits (when possible) to minimize interactions of employees across unique shift groupings
    • Workstations should be disinfected between every shift and in between employee hando­ffs
    • In-person meetings of up to 50 people with social distancing permitted
  • MEETINGS AND SOCIAL EVENTS
    • Limit to the lesser of 50 people or 50% of room capacity
    • Multiple groups may meet in the same facility if they are socially distanced and in separate rooms
    • Groups should be static for duration of meeting or event. If event includes multiple sessions, participants should remain in one room, and speakers/ presenters should rotate between rooms or be digitally displayed (e.g. projected, livestreamed) in multiple rooms
    • Dance floors should remain closed
    • Food service should follow Restaurant and Bar guidelines
  • OFFICES
    • Continue capacity limit of no more than 50% occupancy
    • In-person meetings of up to 50 people with social distancing permitted
    • Continue health screenings, though employers may screen o­ ice employees via in-person conversation or questionnaire once at their workstation, or using virtual method
  • RESTAURANTS AND BARS
    • Indoor dining and drinking now permitted for parties of up to 10 people
    • Seated areas should be arranged so that tables allow for 6 ft. between parties; impermeable barriers may be installed between booths which are less than 6 ft. apart
    • Standing areas (in restaurants or bars) should be limited to no more than 25% of standing area capacity
    • Buffets and self-service food stations (e.g. hot and cold bars, bulk items, baked goods) should adhere to additional minimum guidelines
    • Self-service beverage fountains are permissible with the additional precautions
  • RETAIL AND SERVICE COUNTER
    • Continue capacity limit of no more than 50% occupancy
    • Mall food courts may reopen in line with Indoor Dining and Drinking guidelines
  • PERSONAL CARE
    • Continue capacity limit of no more than 50% occupancy
    • If services require customer to remove his or her mask, employee must wear both a face mask and eye protection (e.g., face shield, protective glasses)
    • No time restrictions on massage or other services
  • OUTDOOR SEATED SPECTATOR EVENTS
    • Outdoor spectator events only; indoor spectator events not permitted at this time
    • Tickets events with seating available for all customers permitted; general admission shows and/or events with standing room only are not permitted at this time
    • Maximum of 20% of seating capacity for spectators
    • Concessions permitted with restrictions
  • THEATERS AND PERFORMING ARTS
    • Seated theaters, cinemas, and performing arts centers for ticketed events with seating available for all customers permitted; general admission shows and/or events with standing room only are not permitted at this time
    • Indoor capacity limit of 50 people or less or 50% of space capacity (applies to each screening room); outdoor capacity limited to 20% of overall space capacity
    • Patrons should wear face coverings over their nose and mouth, except while seated within a venue (exceptions can be made for people with medical conditions or disabilities that prevent them from safely wearing a face covering)
    • Concessions permitted with restrictions
  • YOUTH AND RECREATIONAL SPORTS
    • Competitive gameplay and tournaments permitted for moderate and lower risk sports. Intra-team scrimmages for higher risk sports
    • Limit of 50 spectators for events
    • Sporting venues may host multiple groups of participants engaged in active exercise or gameplay provided the venue has space to appropriately social distance and can limit interaction between groups
    • Concessions permitted with restrictions
  • ZOOS
    • Capacity limit of no more than 25% occupancy
    • Guided tours should be limited to 50 or fewer people per group
    • Indoor exhibits are limited to the lesser of 50 people or 50% of the building capacity
    • Audio tours are permitted, though equipment should be disinfected before and after individual use
    • Zoos should have plan to limit congregation via advance ticket sales and timed ticketing • Concessions permitted with restrictions
  • Restore Illinois: Phase 4 (dceocovid19resources.com)

While Chicago has achieved the necessary metric measures to fully transition back to Phase 4, Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced that the City will be under modified guidelines as follows:

Restaurants and Bars

• Indoor capacity remains restricted to the lesser of 25% or 25 people per room or space
• Food must be available at all times in order to offer indoor service. This means that bars, taverns or breweries without a food license can operate indoors as long as they partner with a food establishment so that food is available to patrons at all times (e.g., making menus available and allowing delivery, allowing patrons to order from third-party delivery services).
• Maximum of six patrons at indoor or outdoor tables
• Patrons can sit at bars, with six feet of social distancing between parties
• Face coverings must be worn at all times, except when patrons are seated and actively eating or drinking
• Patrons must be seated whenever they are eating or drinking
• Tables must be six feet apart
• Reservations are encouraged
• Two-hour time limit no longer required
• The sale of alcohol must end at 11pm, including alcohol sold for on-site consumption, delivery or carry out
• Establishments must close for on-site service at 12am

Event Venues

• Indoor capacity remains restricted to the lesser of 25% or 25 people per room or space
• Indoor events can serve food or drinks, but indoor service guidelines must be followed:
• Face coverings must be worn at all times, except when patrons are seated and actively eating or drinking
• Six people per table
• Patrons must be seated whenever they are eating or drinking
• Tables must be six feet apart
• Alcohol service must end at 11pm, and patrons must be off-premises by 12am

Health and Fitness Centers

• No limits on operating hours (non-essential business curfew repealed)
• 40% capacity, with no more than 50 people in any one space
• Group classes of 15 or fewer can resume under the 40% capacity restriction
• Face coverings must be worn at all times

Indoor Recreation

• No limits on operating hours (non-essential business curfew repealed)
• 40% capacity, with no more than 50 people in any one space
• Face coverings must be worn at all times

Movie Theaters and Performance Venues

• No limits on operating hours (non-essential business curfew repealed).
• 40% capacity, with no more than 50 people in any one space
• Face coverings must be worn at all times

Retail Stores

• No limits on operating hours (non-essential business curfew repealed)
• Grocery stores and pharmacies can operate at 50% capacity, all other stores at 40% capacity
• Face coverings must be worn at all times
• Alcohol sales from establishments with a Package Goods license must end at 9pm

Museums

• No limits on operating hours (non-essential business curfew repealed)
• Can operate indoors at 25% capacity
• Face coverings must be worn at all times

Personal Services

• No limits on operating hours (non-essential business curfew repealed)
• 40% capacity, with no more than 50 people in any one space
• Face coverings can be removed only for services that require their removal

Places of Worship

•  40% capacity, with no more than 50 people in any one space
• Special events capped at no more than 25% capacity or 25 people, while following indoor dining regulations
• Face coverings must be worn at all times

The Illinois General Assembly continues to be impacted by the ongoing pandemic also. Last week, House Speaker Welch announced that the House will cancel all scheduled session days in February except for February 10 while it attempts to develop rules and protocols that address how to safely conduct legislative business in-person, and to develop protocols to conduct business remotely.  It is expected the House will have completed its work to update its rules and Feb. 10 will be a one-day session to formally adopt the House rules for the 102^nd General Assembly. The announcement also canceled the Governor’s annual budget address scheduled for February 17; however, it is possible the Governor may hold a virtual address to fulfill this constitutionally mandated address.  The Senate has already adopted rules for its committee work to be conducted remotely, and is also working to determine the safety protocols to be put in place to conduct legislative business in-person.  The Senate is scheduled to resume session on February 9.

On Sunday, Rep. Andre Thapedi (D-Chicago) announced he is resigning his seat in the Illinois House.  Rep. Thapedi is the fourth legislator to resign their seat in the 102^nd General Assembly as he joins Sen. Bill Brady (R-Bloomington), Sen. Andy Manar (D-Bunker Hill) and Sen. Steans (D-Chicago).