CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Chicago is going to be open starting Friday like it’s not been in more than a year during the pandemic.
Because more Chicagoans are becoming vaccinated and the city’s COVID test positivity rate is going down, Mayor Lightfoot said the city can further loosen some COVID-19 restrictions and open up more.
Under the revised Phase Four guidelines, most Chicago industries will have the ability to increase capacity effective immediately, including the following changes:
• Restaurants and bars: Indoor capacity can increase to the lesser of 50 percent or 100 people.
• Spectator events, theater, and performing arts: Large indoor venues, including the United Center, can now operate at 25 percent capacity.
• Meetings, conferences, and conventions: Large indoor venues can now operate at the lesser of 25 percent or 250 people.
• Places of worship: Large indoor venues can now operate at 25 percent capacity.
• Festivals and general admission outdoor spectator events: Operate at 15 people per 1,000 sq. ft.
• Flea and farmers markets: Operate at 25 percent capacity or 15 people per 1,000 sq. Ft.
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Additionally, weddings and other private events will be allowed to have more people now; and if guests that are fully vaccinated – defined as 14 days after receiving their final vaccine dose – they won’t count towards the capacity limits of 50 people for indoor events and 100 people at outdoor events.
Events must be at a licensed business, they cannot be open to the public, and guests must RSVP prior to the event. Business owners will be responsible for verifying that exempted guests are fully vaccinated and keep records.
While COVID-19 capacity restrictions are beginning to loosen across industries, other regulations remain in place to keep patrons and employees safe, including the requirement to maintain six feet of social distancing and remove face coverings only in limited circumstances.
If the reopening metrics remain stable or continue to decrease for the next two weeks and the city reaches the criteria set by the state, Chicago will join the State of Illinois in moving to the Bridge Phase.
Additional regulations will ease across industries once the city reaches the Chicago Bridge Phase, including expanding operating hours for restaurants and bars. The full reopening guidelines can be found at Chicago.gov/reopening.
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