Public Affairs Conference, Proof of Vaccinations, Rising Numbers in Cook County
Monday, April 5, 2021
The Illinois Restaurant Association continues to engage with local, state, and federal officials to help employers and employees address concerns about COVID-19. Please see the below resources and information for your business - updated as of 5:35 p.m. on Monday, April 5. *** Join Us for the 2021 Virtual Public Affairs Conference 
The National Restaurant Association Public Affairs Conference is coming up Tuesday, April 20, and the IRA will be hosting meetings with several Congressional leaders on Wednesday, April 21. The conference is all virtual this year, and includes panel discussions and speakers including Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Former White House Press Secretary Dana Perino, and two of the lead co-sponsors of the RESTAURANTS Act - Sen. Kyrsten Sinema and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick. Click here to review the agenda, which is being updated frequently. Click here to register today for $50 with promo code PAFCMEMBER. Contact Matt Quinn with any questions. Cook County COVID-19 Numbers Rising, More Restrictions Under Consideration On Saturday, Dr. Rachel Rubin, co-lead of the Cook County Department of Public Health (CCDPH), told reporters that due to rising COVID-19 indicators, the county may soon see the return of an indoor dining ban or the gathering limit curtailed from the current cap of 50% capacity or 50 people. Click here to read more from Chicago Tribune. The IRA is in communication with CCDPH about the county's approach to any further mitigations on restaurants and bars, and we are working to maintain safe indoor dining in all areas of the state. Click here to review current regulations on suburban Cook County restaurants and bars. Complete our Latest Impact Survey The IRA is working with the National Restaurant Association on a new survey to collect operator feedback about the impact of COVID-19 on your businesses. The survey results are crucial to our efforts to quantify and illustrate the ongoing challenges facing the industry to elected officials, public health experts, the media, and more. Please take a few minutes to complete the survey and share your perspective. Download our Mask Policy Reminder for Your Menus 
The IRA has created a graphic template for operators to add to their touchless menus in order to remind customers of the state of Illinois' requirement that patrons wear masks/face coverings at all times when not actively eating or drinking. We urge all operators to utilize the graphic at your establishments to reinforce the need for masks and face coverings, which will help keep restaurants and bars on a safe and steady path for reopening and recovery. Click here to download the template and add it to your menus. Updated State FAQ on Proof of Vaccinations, Indoor Occupancy The state of Illinois has recently updated their FAQ on current Phase 4 regulations, including answers related to proof of vaccination and negative COVID-19 tests as is relates to occupancy and events. It is important to note that the state's updated plan does not currently effect the city of Chicago or Cook County, which have implemented their own guidance. Please check with your local municipalities to confirm they are implementing the state’s new guidance. From the updated FAQ: How are capacity limits outlined in the guidelines impacted for guests or patrons that are able to demonstrate immunity with proof of a vaccination or negative COVID-19 test? Is this effective immediately, or not until the Bridge Phase? Is there a standard way to verify vaccination and/or having received a negative COVID-19 test? Following full vaccination, individuals receive a vaccination card from the administrator of the vaccine. At this point, there is no uniform proof of vaccine or negative COVID-19 tests. Businesses should develop methods to evaluate authenticity of the documentation provided.
Does this apply to all sectors which have guidelines? How are businesses supposed to track individuals who received vaccinations or a negative COVID-19 test? Businesses are responsible for managing their capacity and admission procedures within the venue to establish a protocol and system to verify proof of a vaccination plus 14 days or a negative COVID-19 test. Businesses should evaluate privacy concerns to implement a reliable method to manage proof of vaccinations or negative COVID-19 test such as an online registration with a reporting feature and the attendee or guest needs to provide proof of vaccination card or test results in person on the date of the event. If a venue is being utilized by a company for an event, the event host is responsible for compliance. If businesses opt to establish a system of checking proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test to permit greater capacity, businesses should evaluate all applicable data privacy laws for retention of the information. Businesses are not required to ask all patrons of proof of vaccination or negative COVID-19 test if they wish to remain within Restore Illinois Phase 4 and Bridge Phase limits.
Is there a cap on the number of vaccinated individuals an establishment can allow on the premises? Venues with fixed seating such as a theater, restaurant, and sporting venue are limited by the requirement to maintain at least 6’ social distancing between groups. Venues without fixed seating need to implement a method to ensure that groups maintain 6’ social distancing within the space. For both fixed seating and non-fixed seating venues, capacities may also not exceed the maximum allowable capacity otherwise indicated by applicable codes (e.g. fire code) if other social distancing measures are feasible.
If an individual has a proven immunity through proof vaccinations or a recent negative COVID-19 test, can those individuals intermingle with people outside their group without social distancing? No. The concept of permitting individuals to not count towards the capacity limits does not permit the individuals to also mix within the venue, event, or other industry space and not follow the other restrictions.
What is the capacity for indoor dining, and when is it permissible? Can bars and restaurants increase the size of their tables if some or all of the guests are vaccinated or present proof of a negative COVID-19 test? Can bars and restaurants' place tables closer than six feet apart if some or all of the guests at adjacent tables are vaccinated or present proof of a negative COVID-19 test? For indoor spaces that accommodate eating/drinking, how does this affect the standing area capacity established in the guidelines? As long as the establishment operators can manage the standing area to ensure parties are placed at standing tables, not mixing and spaced at least 6’ apart, then the standing area capacity (25%) can be increased with individuals that provide the proof of vaccination or negative COVID test.
Click here to read the full FAQ. This Thursday - Marketing and Messaging Must-Have Strategies For Spring 
Join the IRA and panelists from Levy, Isabelli Partners, and Yelp for RestaurantsThursday, April 8 at 10:00 a.m. for a webinar highlighting timely marketing and PR tactics to reach and engage with customers. Learn strategies to use right now to promote your business and drive traffic. Este seminario web se transmitirá en inglés y español. 此网络研讨会有中文及英文两种放送版本. This webinar is being provided in partnership with Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and the Cook County Community Recovery Initiative. Click here to register. This Week - US Foods Food Fanatics Live Event On Wednesday, April 7, IRA Platinum Sponsor US Foods hosts their Food Fanatics Live Virtual Access event, featuring inspiring speakers, cooking demonstrations, and expert insights for the restaurant and hospitality industry. Click here to register.
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