Mask Regulations/Posters, Vaccine Exemption, RRF Closes Monday

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 6:50 p.m. on Friday, May 21.

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Guidance on Mask Regulations and Occupancy, Sample Posters from BACP

Earlier this week, the city of Chicago, Cook County, and state of Illinois each made announcements that they have aligned their mask and social distancing requirements with CDC regulations. It is important to note that while the announced changes are in effect, some local and state guidelines posted online have not yet been updated to accurately reflect these changes.

Please review the below updates and FAQs for restaurants, bars, and events in the city of Chicago, Cook County, and the state of Illinois. If you have any questions regarding current regulations, email Matt Quinn.

Click here to watch the city of Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) webinar from Thursday on navigating Chicago's latest COVID-19 regulations for businesses.

Click here to visit the city of Chicago's Reopening Businesses Portal, which includes up to date capacity guidelines and regulations.

Note that the city of Chicago and Cook County remain aligned their reopening guidance.

Mask Guidance and Signage (Chicago/Cook County)

Click here to read the city of Chicago's FAQ on masks at businesses (also applicable to Cook County businesses).

• Effective Tuesday, May 18, fully vaccinated individuals are not required to wear face coverings in most public and private settings - including restaurants, bars, and event venues.

• Businesses are no longer required to mandate that customers wear masks inside their businesses

• Businesses are encouraged - though not required - to verify that people are vaccinated if they don't wear masks.

• Businesses are encouraged - though not required - to keep mask policies in place through at least Phase 5, especially if they do not want to verify that patrons are vaccinated.

• Businesses are required to notify their customers prior to entry about their mask policy.Options include:

• Continuing to require masks for all customers.

• Checking for vaccination status and allowing fully vaccinated customers to remove their masks.

• Asking for customers to verbally/in writing attest to being vaccinated before entering without a mask.

• Post signage that says masks are not required for fully vaccinated customers

• Click here to download sample signage from the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH).

• Businesses can choose to continue to require face coverings for all customers and employees, 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. 

Mask Guidance (State of Illinois)

The state of Illinois has not yet updated their Bridge Phase guidance or FAQs to align with the latest Executive Order. The IRA has requested several clarifications to ensure restaurants, bars, and event venues have necessary guidance. We will share the updated guidelines as soon as they are available.

Vaccine Exemption, Distancing, Occupancy Guidance (Chicago/Cook County)

Click here to read the city of Chicago's FAQ on the Vaccine Exemption, which allows businesses to operate with higher occupancy or full occupancy if everyone in the establishment is vaccinated.

• All industries have the option of taking advantage of the Vaccine Exemption, which allows a business to increase capacity in the following ways:

• Fully vaccinated individuals do not have to count towards COVID-19 capacity limits across all industries.

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

• Establishments with a late-hour liquor license can operate without hour restrictions if only fully vaccinated patrons are allowed to enter.

• Establishments can operate without COVID-19 restrictions within their establishment or within any room or floor if only fully vaccinated patrons and employees are allowed within that area.

• Businesses that choose to take advantage of the Vaccine Exemption to increase capacity are required to verify that patrons are fully vaccinated. 

• At this point, there is no uniform proof of vaccine. Vaccination card, photo/photocopy of vaccination card, or other printout/photo/electronic proof of vaccine records with the patron’s name are some acceptable methods of demonstrating fully vaccinated status.

• Businesses may develop methods to evaluate authenticity of the documentation provided.

• Businesses that choose not to take advantage of the Vaccine Exemption are not required to ask patrons for proof of vaccination. 

• Retaining a copy of the vaccination records is not a requirement of compliance with the Vaccine Exemption.

• At minimum, businesses are required to track which customers are under vaccine exemption during their time in the establishment and demonstrate the process to on-site investigators upon request.

• Examples include using wristbands, stamps, or another indicator.

• Establishments that are open to the public such as restaurants and bars may open dance floors and allow dancing without masks or physical distancing only if they verify that all patrons within the establishment or within the room or floor are fully vaccinated. 

Vaccine Exemption, Distancing, Occupancy Guidance (State of Illinois)

The state of Illinois has not yet updated their Bridge Phase guidance or FAQs to align with the latest Executive Order. The IRA has requested several clarifications to ensure restaurants, bars, and event venues have necessary guidance. We will share the updated guidelines as soon as they are available.

Restaurant Revitalization Fund Grant Application Portal Closes Monday

This week, the Small Business Administration (SBA) announced that eligible eating establishments have until Monday, May 24 at 7:00 p.m. (Central) to submit applications to the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF).

Click here to submit an application.

Visit the Restaurants Act RRF webpage for FAQs, a step by step guide to applying, and more.