Today, Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced that that the City of Chicago is reinstating some restrictions for bars, restaurants, gyms and personal service establishments. Mayor Lightfoot said that it is a precautionary move in response to a recent increase in community cases of COVID-19. The reinstated restrictions go into effect on July 24th at 12:01 a.m.
The restrictions include:
- Bars, taverns, breweries and other establishments that serve alcohol for on-site consumption without a retail food license will no longer be able to serve customers indoors. Establishments that do not serve food may operate outdoor service as they did under Phase Three.
- Restaurants can still operate with indoor seating, subject to existing COVID-19 guidance and existing regulations on face coverings and distancing.
- Maximum table parties are reduced to six people at restaurants, bars, taverns and breweries.
- Indoor fitness classes are reduced to a maximum of 10 people.
- Personal services requiring the removal of face coverings (i.e., shaves, facials, etc.) are no longer permitted.
- Residential property managers are asked to limit guest entry to 5 people per unit.
The City is hosting webinars this week to discuss these changes. Businesses can sign up here.
Also, last Friday, Chicago added Iowa and Oklahoma to the travel quarantine list that went into effect on July 6, 2020. Persons who travel to Chicago from those states must also quarantine for fourteen (14) days upon arrival to Chicago. With the addition of Iowa and Oklahoma, the travel quarantine list now stands at 17 states. The other states on the travel quarantine list are: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Utah. The Chicago quarantine order does not apply to persons traveling for medical care, parental shared custody responsibilities, or essential workers traveling for business.
Employers with employees who live or work in Chicago, and who have traveled to one of these states, should not allow employees to work for fourteen (14) days after the employee’s return. In some cases, employees who cannot work from home, but who may become subject to Chicago’s quarantine order, may be eligible for up to 80 hours of emergency paid sick leave under the federal Families First Coronavirus Relief Act (“FFCRA”), because they would be subject to a local government quarantine order. However, the quarantine order only applies to persons who live and work in Chicago.
Cook County
recommends that persons who travel to suburban Cook County from those same states also self-quarantine. Although modeled on Chicago’s order, Cook County is not mandating that persons self-quarantine. Therefore, employees who do not work because they or their employer choose to follow Cook County’s recommendation to self-quarantine would not be eligible for emergency paid sick leave under the FFCRA.
