The city of Chicago extended its stay-at-home advice to Jan. 22 as the coronavirus pandemic continues, city officials announced Sunday.
In mid-November, Chicago issued the advice in response to the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic.
The measure, enacted, among other things, “calls on all Chicago residents to take clear steps to protect their communities and help us flatten the curve.”
According to the city, “residents are strongly advised to adhere to the advice”.
Chicago has issued a stay-at-home opinion as the city reaches a “critical point” in the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic. Watch Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s full announcement here.
Here’s what’s included in the advice, according to information provided by the City of Chicago:
• Avoid all non-essential travel out of state; if travel is essential, quarantine or negative testing is required prior to travel, depending on the state a traveler is from.
• Indoor gatherings in private homes should not have more than six non-household members
• Under the executive order of the Illinois Gov. Pritzker must all restaurants and bars dine indoors and suspend service
• Non-essential businesses must be closed to the public between 11 pm and 6 am. Bars, restaurants and other establishments with a tavern or on-site consumption – Occasional activity permit can sell alcohol on site or en route until 11pm
• Residents showing symptoms of COVID-19 must provide shelter in their place of residence.
- Places of worship – Must limit each indoor space to 50 people while practicing social distance, or 40% capacity (whichever is less). However, special events such as weddings, wake, potlucks and other community events should not have more than 10 people. It is also recommended that, if possible, regular services are run by no more than 10 people. Funerals are limited to 10 relatives of the deceased, excluding staff.
- Retail – Must limit capacity to 25%, including general merchandise stores, big box stores offering groceries, pharmacy and convenience stores. Supermarkets and pharmacies can continue to operate up to 50% of their capacity.
- Health and Fitness Centers – Must limit indoor use to a maximum of 25% capacity, with gatherings limited to 50 people while practicing social distance. Indoor fitness classes must be discontinued. Outdoor activities allowed with a capacity of 25% with group activities limited to 10 people or less. Changing rooms must be closed, as well as other ancillary accommodations where social distance is not possible, such as saunas and steam rooms.
- Personal services such as hair salons, barber shops, and nail salons should limit each indoor space to 25 people while practicing social distance, or 25% capacity (whichever is less). Services requiring removal of facial covers should be discontinued (eg Facials, beard trimmings).
- Performance venues, cinemas, museums and indoor recreation centers (eg bowling alleys, arcades) – All indoor activities must be discontinued. If the facility has an outdoor component, limit each outdoor space to a maximum of 100 people, while taking social distance, or 25% capacity, whichever is less. Group activities outside the home should be limited to 10 people or less.
- Hotels – Must limit meetings in common areas, such as the lobby, to 25% capacity, with no more than 50 people in the same room at a time. Hotel room occupancy should be limited to registered guests only. Fitness centers must be closed or used on a reservation model only, with capacity limited to 25% of the maximum occupancy of the room. Event and meeting rooms must be closed.
- Commercial buildings with employees who can work remotely must operate remotely. If remote work is not possible, limit capacity to 25% for all indoor areas, including tenant areas.