The reinstated restrictions will go into effect at 12:01am on Friday, July 24th, to give businesses time to comply.

Well, being open, even under restrictions, was nice while it lasted.

However, Chicago mayor Lori Lightfoot and the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) have decided that because Chicago has exceeded 200 cases of COVID-19 per-day on a seven-day rolling average, restrictions are going to be slapped back in place.

The CDPH has also indicated that because the biggest uptick in cases is coming from those between the ages of 18-29, and that many of the cases involve exposure at local bars where social distancing and mask-wearing are "problematic," action had to be taken.

Chicago mayor Lori Lightfoot in a press release:

We have made so much progress here in Chicago in containing the spread of the virus, protecting our health system and saving lives, and in general, the virus remains under control locally. But we are again seeing a steady increase in new cases. While we aren’t near the peak of the pandemic from earlier this year, none of us wants to go back there, and we feel these restrictions will help limit further community spread.

Here's a rundown of the new (or, revisited) restrictions going into effect Friday:

  • Bars, taverns, breweries and other establishments that serve alcohol for on-site consumption without a Retail Food license will no longer be able to serve customers indoors.
  • Restaurants that serve alcohol will be allowed to continue to operate as long as they abide by ongoing COVID-19 guidance and existing regulations.
  • Establishments without food may still provide outdoor service as they did under phase three.
  • Maximum party size and table occupancy at restaurants, bars, taverns and breweries will be reduced to six people.
  • Indoor fitness class size will be reduced to a maximum of 10 people.
  • Personal services requiring the removal of face coverings will no longer be permitted (shaves, facials, etc.).
  • Residential property managers will be asked to limit guest entry to five per unit to avoid indoor gatherings and parties.

Looking over the list, one thing is pretty clear. Those neighborhood bars that Chicago is famous for are going to continue dropping like flies. Several well-known establishments have already announced that they'll be closing their doors permanently because of the reinstatement of restrictions.

 

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