Cook County and Chicago Require Masks, Signage Needed

Cook County to Require Masks in All Indoor Public Places Effective Monday, August 23 - Signage Needed

This afternoon, Cook County Department of Public Health issued a mitigation order that requires masks in indoor public settings for all persons over 2 years old - regardless of vaccination status - effective Monday, August 23.

Click here to read the announcement and mitigation order. Click here to download an updated face coverings required poster from CDPH.

What Restaurants and Bars Need to Know

• Masks are required in all indoor public settings, including bars and restaurants.

• All businesses open to public must post signage, in a form and size approved by CCDPH, advising patrons and staff that masks are required to be worn on the premises. Such signage must be posted at all entrances to the premises as well as prominently posted in an area visible to patrons and staff within the establishment.

• Similar to previous mask requirements, masks can be removed at restaurants, bars and other eating/drinking establishments by patrons when they are actively eating and drinking.

• The new public health order does not include capacity limits at public places, and masking remains optional in outdoor settings.

• As a reminder, outdoor settings include sidewalk cafes, outdoor patios, rooms with retractable roofs, outdoor tents with at least 50% of the sides open and indoor spaces that are within eight feet of walls that are least 50% open.

Click here to download a graphic template to add to your touchless menus in order to remind customers of Cook County's mask requirement.

City of Chicago Now Requires Masks Indoors in All Public Places, Businesses Must Post Signage

Effective today, Friday, August 20, masks are now required in the city of Chicago in indoor public settings for all persons over 2 years old - regardless of vaccination status.

Click here to read the full announcement. Click here to download an updated face coverings required poster from CDPH.

What Restaurants and Bars Need to Know

• Under City of Chicago Public Health Order No. 2021-1, masks are required in all indoor public settings.

• All businesses must prominently post signage at each publicly accessible entrance to the business and at least one location inside the business that is conspicuously visible informing patrons that masks are required to be worn indoors, regardless of vaccination status.

• Similar to previous mask mandates, masks can be removed at restaurants, bars and other eating/drinking establishments by patrons when they are actively eating and drinking.

• The new public health order does not include capacity limits at public places, and masking remains optional in outdoor settings.

• As a reminder, outdoor settings include sidewalk cafes, outdoor patios, rooms with retractable roofs, outdoor tents with at least 50% of the sides open and indoor spaces that are within eight feet of walls that are least 50% open.

• Masks are recommended for unvaccinated individuals in crowded outdoor settings.

• More information and guidance for business is posted to chicago.gov/reopening.

Click here to download a graphic template to add to your touchless menus in order to remind customers of the city of Chicago's mask requirement.

Back to Business Grant Application Portal Now Live, Webinar on Demand

The application portal for the state's $250M Back to Business grant program is now open.

$25M in grant funding is prioritized for restaurants and bars that did not receive a Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) grant. Grants will range in size from $5,000-$150,000, based on the amount of losses experienced by the business. To be considered for a grant, applicants must demonstrate a reduction in revenue in 2020 as compared with 2019, and annual revenues of no more than $20 million in 2019. 

Click here to review the program FAQ. Click here to review the documents required to apply.

Click here to watch the IRA's webinar from yesterday with DCEO and the Cook County Bureau of Economic Development on Back to Business grants, who is eligible, and how to apply.