It was a public holiday in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs as indoor dining was allowed under the provisions of Illinois’ Tier 1 coronavirus mitigation.
“I feel great,” Samuel Ross, who visited a local eatery after the announcement was made on Saturday. “It feels good to have beers on tap, only the freshness of draft beer brought me out today.”
Ross was one of many customers who spent their Saturday afternoons at Haymarket Brewery in Chicago’s West Loop.
Under the terms of Tier 1 mitigation measures, bars and restaurants can open up to 25% capacity, with reservations required for parties of four or fewer people per table. These establishments are open from 6am to 11pm
While many places welcomed the news of the reopening, not everyone is ready to welcome customers to indoor spaces again, including Off-Color Brewing in Lincoln Park.
“Everyone has their own risk tolerances and things that make sense to them and their businesses,” said owner John Laffler. “For us with the vaccine not quite here, but imminent, it is beyond our risk tolerance to bring people in.”
In order for restaurants and bars to move into the Phase 4 restrictions, the positivity rate must be at or below 6.5% for three consecutive days, IC bed availability must remain above 20% for three consecutive days, and hospital admissions must be stable stay or decline, for seven out of ten days.
In Chicago, the positivity rate is currently at 7.6% and declining, while the city meets the other criteria for moving forward. If the city can reach stage four, the party limits will be expanded to 10 people or less.