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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City of Chicago Updates Mask Regulations, Occupancy and Social Distancing  Requirements for Fully Vaccinated Establishments and Patrons

This afternoon, the city of Chicago's Department of Public Health (CDPH) announced that the city of Chicago will align its mask requirements with the state of Illinois. This follows Governor Pritzker's announcement yesterday that the state will align with CDC guidance.

Click here to read today's announcement from CDPH. Click here to read the FAQ for Chicago businesses on updated mask guidances.

This evening, the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) sent out a notice to Chicago businesses to notify them that during the Chicago Bridge Phase, businesses are still required to verify that customers are fully vaccinated if they would like to increase their COVID-19 capacity through the Vaccine Exemption.

Chicago businesses should note two changes to the city's COVID-19 regulations that are effective immediately:

• Fully Vaccinated Establishments
• Businesses can operate without any COVID-19 restrictions within their entire establishment or a designated room/floor if they only allow customers and employees that are fully vaccinated within that area.
• This means that six feet of social distancing would not be required between parties, provided that all customers or employees within the establishment or within that specific room or floor are fully vaccinated.
• In order to take advantage of this exemption and operate without COVID-19 restrictions, a business must verify that all customers within the establishment or within any room or floor is fully vaccinated, and customers should be prepared to show proof of vaccination that matches the information tracked by the establishment.
• If any of the customers within an establishment or a room or floor are not fully vaccinated, then six feet of distancing must be maintained between all parties within that area.
• Dance Floors
• Dance floors can reopen at private social events such as weddings, with fully vaccinated individuals allowed to dance without face coverings and without physical distancing.
• Unvaccinated individuals should continue to wear masks and maintain physical distancing while dancing.
• Venues are required to verify that guests that are dancing without face coverings and without physical distancing are fully vaccinated, and guests should be prepared to show proof of vaccination that matches the information tracked by the venue.
• The latest overview of COVID-19 regulations in Chicago will be posted at chicago.gov/reopening. As of 7:00 p.m. tonight, these guidelines are not yet posted to the city's website.
• Additionally, BACP will be holding webinars later this week on the new mask guidance and the Vaccine Exemption.
• Webinars will be held on Thursday, May 20 at 3:00 p.m. and Friday, May 21 at 1:00 p.m.
• Register and learn more at chicago.gov/businesseducation.

Restaurants, bars, and event venues in the city of Chicago should be advised of the following from the city's FAQ on mask requirements:

• Are face coverings required at Chicago businesses?
• Effective Tuesday, May 18, 2021, fully vaccinated individuals are not required to wear face coverings in most public and private settings. Face coverings are still required in health care settings, schools, correctional/congregate care settings, on public transportation and in City of Chicago buildings.
• The City continues to strongly advise masking policies for all indoor settings until we reach Phase Five.
• What does “fully vaccinated” mean?
• Individuals are considered fully vaccinated 14 days after their final dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. The final dose is defined as the second dose of a two-dose vaccine (i.e. Pfizer or Moderna), or the first does of a one-dose vaccine (i.e. Johnson & Johnson).
• To be fully vaccinated, an individual must have received a vaccine that has been approved by the World Health Organization for emergency use. As of May 13, 2021, the following vaccines are acceptable: Pfizer/BioNTech, Janssen (Johnson & Johnson), Moderna, Astrazeneca-SK Bio, Serum Institute of India, and Sinopharm.
• Are businesses required to verify that individuals are fully vaccinated to allow for them not to wear face coverings?
• Businesses are strongly advised to verify vaccination status before allowing customers and/or employees to not wear face coverings.
• At this point, there is no uniform proof of vaccine. Businesses can verify that individuals are fully vaccinated by checking vaccination card, photo/photocopy of vaccination card, or other printout/photo/electronic proof of vaccine records with the patron’s name. Businesses may develop methods to evaluate authenticity of the documentation provided.
• If a business does not have the capacity to verify vaccination status, the City strongly advises that businesses continue to require face coverings for all customers and employees.
• Are businesses required to track individuals who received vaccinations in order to allow fully vaccinated individuals not to wear face coverings?
• Businesses are encouraged to verify vaccination status but are not required to maintain records in order to allow fully vaccinated individuals to not wear face coverings.
• Can businesses choose to continue to require face coverings for customers and/or employees?
• Yes. Businesses can choose to continue to require face coverings for all customers, regardless of vaccination status. The City strongly advises that all businesses that do not have the capacity to verify vaccination status continue requiring face coverings.
• What communication should businesses provide to customers about their masking policy?
• Businesses should indicate their current masking policy via signage or other communication to customers prior to entry.

We do expect Cook County to continue to align their guidance with the city of Chicago's regulations. Click here to review guidance for restaurants, bars, and events in suburban Cook County.

Click here to read the state's announcement from yesterday. Click here to review the updated state of Illinois Executive Order.

The IRA recognizes that operators may have several questions related to the new guidelines for mask usage, vaccinations, and occupancy.

We are requesting clarifications from city of Chicago, Cook County, and state of Illinois officials to ensure all hospitality businesses have necessary guidance. Please submit any questions on updated reopening guidelines to Matt Quinn .

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.

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' Bridge to Phase 5 guidelines.

Pleasevisit our websitefor the latest COVID-19 updates, in addition to the above resources and information for your business. Updated as of 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 18.

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