Updated IL Mask Rules, Chicago/Cook County Rules Remain, Call for More RRF Funding

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, May 17.

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State of Illinois Aligns with CDC on Mask Rules, No Changes Yet in Cook County and City of Chicago

Today, Governor Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) announced that Illinois will align state executive orders with the latest CDC guidance.

Click here to read the state's announcement. Click here to review the updated Executive Order.

The IRA is seeking further clarification from the state of Illinois about how the updated Executive Order impacts mask and social distancing requirements for restaurants, bars, and events. We are working to ensure that all hospitality businesses have necessary guidance before making changes to their operations.

The city of Chicago and Cook County have not yet made any modifications to their public health orders regarding the use of masks. Businesses and diners must continue to follow their local municipalities' guidelines related to mask usage.

The IRA is in communication with Chicago and Cook County officials about their plans for mask requirements moving forward, and we are encouraging all municipalities to align with the CDC on mask and social distancing guidelines. We will share the latest updates as soon as they are available.

Read more from Crain's Chicago Business, NBC5 Chicago, and Chicago Tribune.

Join Us to Call for More RRF Funding

On May 3, the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) began accepting applications. In the first 36 hours, more than 186,000 applications had been submitted, and the Small Business Administration (SBA) announced the first 16,000 applications had been funded with $2 billion. At this rate, the SBA will run out after the first two days of applications.

We are urging policymakers in Washington – from the White House to Capitol Hill – to replenish the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) to maximize relief for small independent and franchise restaurant operators. Americans can’t wait to get back into their favorite restaurant with their family and friends, and the federal government can play a key role in making that a reality.

If you haven't already done so, please sign this petition calling on federal leaders to act now.

IRA Meeting with Senator Duckworth

Last Friday, the IRA met with Senator Tammy Duckworth to discuss the urgent need to replenish the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF), immigration reform, staffing challenges, and more issues of concern to restaurants around the country.

Thank you to Senator Duckworth for taking the time to meet with our group and working to provide relief and support for our operators and employees.

Click here to read more.

Illinois, Cook County, Chicago Bridge Phases In Effect

Effective Friday, May 14, the state of Illinois, Cook County, and city of Chicago have all moved into their respective Bridge Phases. The city of Chicago and Cook County continue to align on their overall regulations for reopening, which now include several optional vaccination exemptions that impact occupancy and table sizes.

Click here to read the announcement from the city of Chicago. Click here to read the announcement from Cook County.

Now in effective in Chicago and Cook County:

• Restaurants and bars can operate at 75% occupancy (with six feet of social distancing between parties).

• Social distancing of six feet between parties must be maintained at all times.

• Restaurants and bars can operate within their regular liquor license hours.

• This provision applies to licensees in the city of Chicago, as Cook County does not address hours of operation for liquor licensees in their regulations.

• This means that licensees can stay open until 2:00 am Monday mornings through Saturday mornings and 3:00 am Sunday mornings.

• Establishments with a Late Hour Liquor License can operate without hour restrictions if only fully vaccinated patrons and no unvaccinated patrons are permitted to enter.

• This will allow Late Hour establishments to stay open until 4:00 am Monday through Saturday morning and 5:00 am on Sunday morning if all patrons are fully vaccinated during late hour operations.

• Table/party sizes can be increased to 10 per table.

• Bars, restaurants, and other establishments that allow onsite consumption of food or alcohol can increase table or party size above the limit of 10 if all patrons age 16+ at that table or within that party are fully vaccinated.

• Seating at bars/counters is limited to 6 per party indoors and outdoors.

• If an establishment chooses to take advantage of the Vaccine Exemption, table or party size can increase above this limit only if every patron within a party that is 16 or older is fully vaccinated.

• Standing areas may be open for the first time at 25% capacity.

• Individual parties must maintain social distancing.

• Social events can increase capacity to 250 people indoors or 500 people outdoors.

Click here to review the FAQ on vaccination exemptions as it relates to occupancy and table sizes, including recordkeeping, tracking, and compliance guidance. The IRA is in communication with the city and county to confirm the acceptable processes by which operators will be allowed to track vaccinated individuals. We expect further guidance to come out on this subject soon.

Click here to review the full Bridge Phase guidelines for Chicago. Click here to review the full Bridge Phase guidelines for Cook County.

Click here to review the state of Illinois' FAQ on Phase 4 and the Bridge to Phase 5.

Click here to review the state of Illinois' Bridge to Phase 5 guidelines.

Springfield Lobby Day Recap

Thank you to all the IRA members that were able to join us earlier today for our 2021 Virtual Springfield Lobby Day meeting with House Speaker Chris Welch (7th) and Senator Sara Feigenholtz (6th).

Topics of discussion included the state budget, tourism funding, legislation to promote vaccinations, unemployment benefits, and more.

The IRA will continue to advocate for the industry in Springfield for the remainder of the legislative session to ensure the state provides necessary supports to restaurants and all hospitality businesses.

Tomorrow - Vaccinations at Moe's Cantina in River North

Tomorrow morning and afternoon, Moe's Cantina is hosting free vaccinations with Alivio Medical Center.

Click here to learn more and register.

Grubhub Launches GrubHub Direct Platform

Last week, Grubhub announced the launch of Grubhub Direct, a new platform to help independent restaurants better compete through commission-free online ordering and access to data to build customer relationships. Click here to read the full announcement.

This new platform is a result of feedback from Grubhub's independent restaurant partners across the country. This will allow restaurants to market directly to their diners, run custom loyalty programs, receive their diner data, and manage their branded website all without any marketing fees.

Read more from Restaurant Business Online.