Bridge Phase, Springfield Lobby Day, RRF Webinar with SBA
Monday, April 26, 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 6:00 p.m. on Monday, April 26. *** Hundreds of Appointments Still Available - Bridgeport Vaccination Event for Chicago Foodservice Workers 
The IRA is hosting our next vaccination event for foodservice workers in the city of Chicago on Wednesday, April 28 from 9:00 to 5:00 p.m. at the Bridgeport Art Center (1200 W. 35th Street) in Chicago. Chicago hospitality workers can sign up to receive the free Johnson & Johnson (single-dose) COVID-19 this Wednesday. The IRA encourages all operators and employees to take advantage of this opportunity to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Please share the information with your team members and colleagues in the industry. Things to Know The Johnson & Johnson (one dose) vaccine will be administered at the Wednesday, April 28 event at Bridgeport Art Center. Individuals must work at a restaurant, hospitality, or foodservice establishment in the city of Chicago. Vaccinations are available for those who are 18+ years of age. Vaccines will be administered by appointment only. Vaccinations are free and available to any worker regardless of immigration status. Please bring your ID. If you have health insurance, bring your card with you (health insurance is not mandatory). Please complete and bring the Vaccination Administration Form (complete page 1). The form will be emailed to you 72 hours prior to the vaccination event.
Acceptable Forms of Identification Click here to review the city of Chicago Department of Public Health's (CDPH) FAQ on COVID-19 vaccines. Chicago Vaccine Angels will help locate vaccine appointments for individuals still looking to book appointments. Click here to find vaccination locations throughout the state of Illinois. State Could Reach Bridge to Phase 5 by End of Week Earlier today, Governor Pritzker noted that Illinois could enter the Bridge to Phase 5 within five or six days, if current trends continue. To advance into the Bridge Phase, the entire state must reach a 70 percent first dose vaccination rate for residents 65 and over, maintain a 20 percent or higher ICU bed availability rate and hold steady on COVID-19 patients in the hospital, COVID-like illness hospital admissions, and mortality rate over a 28-day monitoring period. Click here to review current metrics from the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH). The following provisions of The Bridge to Phase 5 will apply to restaurants, bars, and events outside of the city of Chicago and Cook County: General occupancy at restaurants and bars No change - still determined by social distancing of six feet between seatbacks of patrons at different tables Standing area capacity at restaurants and bars Indoors - increases to 30% (up from 25%) Outdoors - increases to 50% (up from 25%) Social events capacity Indoor - increases to 250 (up from 50 people or 50% capacity) Outdoor - increases to 500 (up from 100 people or 50% capacity)
Restaurants, bars, and event venues located in the city of Chicago or Cook County will need to continue to follow local reopening guidance. The IRA continues to advocate for expanded reopening in Chicago and Cook County. Please check with your local municipalities to confirm they will be implementing the state’s new guidance. Click here to review the state's current Phase 4 reopening guidelines. Click here to read more from The State Journal-Register. Sign Up Now for Virtual Springfield Lobby Day 
Join the IRA for our 2021 Virtual Springfield Lobby Day on Monday, May 10. Attendees will meet with state Representatives and Senators about legislative and regulatory issues of concern to Illinois' restaurant and hospitality industry - including the need for the state to maintain a safe and steady path to reopening and recovery. Registration is complimentary, and the schedule of meetings will be made available closer to the event. Click here to register, and contact Matt Quinn for more information. Watch on Demand - IRA Webinar with SBA on Restaurant Revitalization Fund Applications Thank you to everyone that attended and our panelists Bo Steiner, District Director, U.S. Small Business Administration, Illinois District Office, IRA President & CEO Sam Toia, and Cook County Commissioner Bridget Gainer for joining today's webinar to review the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) program, documents needed for applications, and how to apply for this critical federal assistance. Click here to watch the webinar recording. Click here to review questions and answers from the webinar that needed further clarification. Click here to review FAQs on RRF from the National Restaurant Association. Webinar This Thursday - Serving Up OSHA Compliance: How to Operate Safely in the Pandemic
On Thursday, April 29 at 2:00 p.m. (Central), the National Restaurant Law Center welcomes Melanie Paul and Chris Schlag, attorneys from Law Firm Partner Jackson Lewis P.C., who will present and discuss current strategies for compliance with the ever-changing guidance from OSHA and the CDC on necessary safety and health measures, quarantine and leave when there is COVID-19 in the workplace. Click here to register. Lucca Osteria Opening in Oak Brook 
Congratulations to IRA Second Vice Chairman Steven Hartenstein on the opening of Lucca Osteria in Oak Brook. IRA Executive Vice President Mary Kay Bonoma joined Steven and Chef Claudio Ulivieri at the restaurant over the weekend.
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