Beginning on Monday, November 16, 2020, residents are advised to stay at home in response to the rapid rise of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in the city and only leave home to go to work or school, or for essential needs such as seeking medical care, going to the grocery store or pharmacy, picking up take-out food, or receiving deliveries. Additionally, residents are strongly advised to not have guests in their homes, cancel traditional Thanksgiving celebrations, and avoid travel. The advisory also outlines additional COVID-19 alerts and regulations such as further limitations on indoor and outdoor meetings and social events, increased enforcement of limits on private gatherings, and continued industry restrictions.
Residents are advised to only leave home to go to work or school, or for essential needs such as seeking medical care, going to the grocery store or pharmacy, picking up food, or receiving deliveries. If you do leave home, you must always wear a face covering and practice social distancing by staying six feet away from others in accordance with the City’s Executive Order 2020-9.
Residents are also advised,
a) Not have guests in their homes unless they are essential workers (e.g., home healthcare providers, childcare workers, or educators).
b) Cancel traditional Thanksgiving celebrations.
c) Avoid travel.
Additionally, meetings and social events are limited to 10 individuals, effective November 16 at 6:00 AM. The limitation applies to both indoor and outdoor events, such as weddings, birthday parties, and other events taking place at banquet halls, event venues, or similar spaces. The 10-person limit applies to events held in hotel guestrooms and rental properties. Furthermore, places of worship cannot have more than 10 individuals gather for events such as weddings or funerals. Regular services can continue to operate at Phase IV capacity levels of 40%/max. 50 individuals. The 10-person limit does not supersede industries that have specified capacity guidelines in places such as fitness clubs, retail stores, or movie theaters. However, a meeting or social event that is outside of normal operations must be within the 10-person limit (e.g., bowling alley hosting a birthday party, or museum holding a book talk).
All indoor gatherings within private residences cannot exceed six non-household members. However, residents are strongly advised to not have any guests in their homes unless they are essential workers (e.g., home healthcare providers, childcare workers, or educators). All restaurants and bars must suspend indoor dining and service. All customers eating or drinking on premises must be seated at outdoor tables spaced at least six feet apart, including tables within eight feet of a wall that is at least 50% open. Party size cannot exceed six people per table.
All non-essential businesses must be closed to the public between the hours of 11:00 PM and 6:00 AM. Bars, restaurants, and other establishments with a Tavern or Consumption on Premises-Incidental Activity license can sell alcohol onsite 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.
Outside of restaurants, bars, and event venues, other establishments can continue operations based on Phase IV Gradually Resume guidelines. This includes strict adherence to physical distancing, masking, screening, and sanitation protocols in all settings. Specific capacity restrictions include, but are not limited to:
a. Places of worship must limit each indoor space to 50 individuals while practicing social distancing, or 40% capacity (whichever is fewer). However, events such as weddings or funerals can have no more than 10 individuals.
b. Non-essential retail stores must limit capacity to 40%, while essential retail is limited to 50% capacity, for all indoor spaces. Gatherings of employees and customers at choke points must be limited to no more than 50 individuals while ensuring six feet of social distancing.
c. Health and fitness centers must limit indoor use to a maximum of 40% capacity, with gatherings limited to 50 individuals while practicing social distancing. Fitness classes can include up to 15 individuals while practicing social distancing, or 40% capacity
(whichever is fewer).
d. Personal services such as hair salons, barbershops, and nail salons must limit capacity to 40%. Gatherings of employees and customers in common areas must be limited to no more than 50 individuals while ensuring six feet of social distancing.
e. Performance venues and movie theaters must limit each indoor space to 50 individuals while practicing social distancing, or 40% capacity (whichever is fewer).
f. Indoor recreation businesses must limit capacity to 40%. Gatherings of employees and customers in common areas must be limited to no more than 50 individuals while ensuring six feet of social distancing.
The City of Chicago is experiencing a rapid increase in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, which left unchecked poses a risk to our healthcare system; and additional intervention is warranted to moderate case growth and preserve hospital capacity; and it is more important than ever to follow guidance from local, state, and federal officials on how to stop the spread of the virus; and taking the steps listed below is critical to preventing the spread of the virus, protecting the lives of you and your loved ones, and preserving our acute-care-hospital- and other healthcare-systems-capacity.
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