CITY OF CHICAGO BUSINESS AFFAIRS & CONSUMER PROTECTION // FEBRUARY 16, 2021
The City of Chicago announced that, effective immediately, indoor service at bars, restaurants and event venues can increase to the lesser of 40% capacity or 50 people per room or floor. This increase is due to the significant progress that Chicago continues to make in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and is based on the framework for reopening that Chicago announced last week. In order to ensure that the rush to reopen does not endanger the progress made in recent weeks and months, all other existing regulations for businesses remain in place for now (see below).
This cautious expansion of indoor service is possible due to Chicago recording fewer than 400 new COVID-19 cases per day, based on the seven-day rolling average, for each of the last three days. This means that all four metrics that Chicago is using to determine when and how to cautiously reopen have now moved into the “Moderate-Risk” level for at least three days, allowing for this expansion of indoor dining. The following metrics are being used to determine the process for continuing to ease COVID-19 regulations:
- COVID cases diagnosed per day: currently averaging 344, in the “Moderate-Risk” level
- COVID test positivity: currently averaging 3.6%, in the “Low-Risk” level
- Emergency Departments visits for COVID-like illness: currently averaging 62 per day, in the “Moderate-Risk” level
- ICU beds occupied by COVID patients: currently averaging 117, in the “Moderate-Risk” level
The full Reopening Matrix can be found here:
The easing of additional regulations, including the expansion to 50% capacity, will be possible if Chicago maintains at least the “Moderate-Risk” level in all four categories for at least two weeks. You can track the City’s progress on the reopening metrics at chi.gov/coviddash, and updated COVID-19 regulations can be found at chicago.gov/reopening.
In order to help businesses understand the new regulations, BACP will be holding a webinar Thursday, February 18, at 1:00 p.m. Register and learn more atchicago.gov/businesseducation.
As a reminder, BACP will be enforcing these COVID-19 regulations as we continue to cautiously reopen. While we have made incredible progress, now is not the time to let up and it is critical that we continue to do everything possible to curb the spread of the deadly COVID-19 virus. Thank you for your commitment to following these regulations closely .