Dear Chicago Residents and Partners,
Mayor
Lori E. Lightfoot, Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH)
Commissioner Allison Arwady, M.D., and Business Affairs and Consumer
Protection (BACP) Commissioner Rosa Escareno this week announced a
retightening of COVID-19 restrictions in response to a recent, rapid
rise in cases and hospitalizations over the past two weeks. Beginning
Friday, October 23rd, a business curfew is in effect from 10:00 p.m. to
6:00 a.m. for all nonessential businesses, and bars without a retail
food license are no longer able to serve customers indoors. All
Chicagoans are being asked to avoid social gatherings of more than six
people and end all social gatherings by 10:00 p.m. These restrictions
and guidelines will be in effect for at least two weeks and are targeted
to help Chicago manage an alarming recent rise in COVID-19 cases and
hospitalizations.
Over
the past week alone, cases have risen by 50%, to over 682 per day.
While daily testing has increased to over 11,000 tests per day, the
positivity rate has also risen to 6.7%, which means that that the
increase in testing does not fully explain the rise in cases. This is
coinciding with a worrying increase in hospitalizations, which for
non-ICU COVID patients and suspected cases are up 36% since September
22. Under the State of Illinois guidelines, the Chicago region will face
additional mitigation measures, including reduced capacity of all
gatherings and closure of indoor dining, if the positivity rate rises
above 8% for three straight days.
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Businesses
that were deemed essential during the Stay at Home Order, such as
grocery stores, pharmacies and gas stations, may remain open during the
business curfew hours. Restaurants may continue operating for take-out
or delivery, but indoor or outdoor consumption of food or alcohol must
cease at 10:00 p.m. Additionally, all bars, taverns, or breweries that
do not have a Retail Food Establishment License will no longer be able
to serve customers indoors at any time. All establishments that serve
alcohol for on-site consumption must end alcohol service at 9:00 pm
before closing at 10:00 p.m. under the business curfew. All other
existing restrictions remain in place, including indoor capacity limits
of 40% or 50 people within a room or space.
BACP
will enforce these new restrictions on businesses, with citations
leading to fines of up to $10,000 and possible closure in the case of
egregious violations. To date, BACP has issued 50 one-day closure orders
and ordered the long-term closure of four establishments.
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CPS Announces Goal to Phase In School-Based Learning
Chicago
Public Schools (CPS) last week announced that all students will begin
the second quarter of school remotely, with the goal of bringing
students back through a phased approach beginning with the thousands of
students in pre-k and students enrolled in intensive and moderate
cluster classrooms who cannot be served well enough under any form of
remote learning. Based on encouraging outcomes from other schools — in
Chicago and across the country — that have implemented classroom-based
learning, the strength of the district's comprehensive health and safety
plan, and the dire need to provide classroom instruction to our most
vulnerable students, the district is assessing the potential of safely
opening pre-k and cluster classrooms for in-person instruction during
the second quarter. As part of the plan, CPS and CDPH will be closely
monitoring the evolving public health environment and a final decision
on reopening school buildings for pre-k and students enrolled in cluster
programs will be made closer to the start of the second quarter. Learn more at cps.edu.
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Recommendations for Voters
You don’t have to choose between your health and voting. As
a voter, you can minimize the risk of COVID-19 transmission at polling
locations by using personal prevention practices. This includes wearing a
mask and maintaining at least six feet of distance from people who
don’t live with you. You can also:
- If
possible, apply online to Vote By Mail – and then skip the line and
turn in your signed Ballot Return Envelope at any drop box at any Early
Voting site in the city.
- Check voting locations and requirements before going to vote because these may have changed due to COVID-19.
- Use in-person early voting, if available.
- Vote at off-peak times, such as mid-morning.
- If driving to the polls and your schedule allows, monitor the voter line from your car and join it when it is shorter.
- Bring an alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol to use before and after voting.
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Check the local election office website.
- Ask poll workers what options they offer for casting your ballot if you have symptoms of COVID-19.
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’Halloweek’ Activities to Celebrate Safely
The
“Arts in the Dark Upside-Down Halloween Parade,” in partnership with
LUMA8 and sponsored by Bloomer Chocolate Company, is a reverse parade in
which the entertainment is stationery and attendees drive by and watch
the visual artists and performers from the safety of their vehicles.
Each year, the parade, which celebrates Chicago’s diverse communities
and cultures, draws close to 100,000 guests, and features artists and
performers from world-renowned institutions including the Art Institute
of Chicago, the Lookingglass Theatre Company, After School Matters and
aspiring artists in every field. A special Halloween goody bag, courtesy
of Blommer Chocolate Company, will await parade-goers at the end. The
parade will take place along Washington Park on October 31 from 12-3pm.
Attendees are encouraged to join the visual experience and dress up
their cars in “Car-stumes”. Admission is free, but reservations are
required. To register visit artsinthedark.com/attend.
The
Chicago Park District and CPD will also participate in ‘Halloweek’ by
providing candy for socially distanced trick-or-treaters. Starting
October 26, residents can check with their local park for additional
information and locations where candy is available. Trick-or-treating
with CPD will take place at the specific district locations below
between 4:30-7:00 p.m.:
- Monday, October 26 - Districts 6, 17, 25
- Tuesday, October 27 - Districts 3, 14, 15
- Wednesday, October 28 - Districts 8, 9, 12
- Thursday, October 29 - Districts 5, 7, 10
- Friday, October 30- Districts 2, 4, 11
- Saturday, October 31 - All districts
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The
City is offering specific guidance on how to trick-or-treat safely,
including advising that trick-or-treating groups remain limited to six
people or less and that trick-or-treaters stay on the move without
congregating – which means more houses visited and more candy for all!
People passing out candy are asked to try to socially distance while
doing so, perhaps by using a tube or pipe to drop candy into
trick-or-treaters’ bags from a distance. A complete list of Halloween
safety guidelines, which are in line with those issued by the Illinois
Department of Public Health and additional Halloweek events happening
across the city can be found at ChicagoHalloweek.org.
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Flu Shots at No Cost
Now
more than ever, everyone needs to do their part to prevent the spread
of respiratory illnesses such as the flu and COVID-19. Getting the
seasonal flu vaccination before the end of October is the best way to
protect yourself and your loved ones from the flu. To ensure that every resident can access vaccines regardless of ability to pay and immigration status, CDPH
is hosting more than 50 community flu clinics where residents can get
their flu shot for no out-of-pocket cost. Walk-ins are welcome, but to
prevent waiting, we strongly encourage everyone to make an appointment. CDPH has also relaunched the Chicago Flu Vaccine Finder,
a web-based app that shows the closest location where the flu shot is
available. For more information about the flu and to see the full list
of community flu clinics in Chicago, visit chicago.gov/flu.
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Stay informed with Chi COVID Coach
Registration is free and your information is protected. Registering gives you three benefits:
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Pre-register for a vaccine: Find out when a vaccine is available. Everyone signed up will be contacted by the Chicago Department of Public Health.
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Receive testing information: Learn the latest about tests and testing sites.
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Get help monitoring symptoms: Receive text messages tailored to your symptoms.
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COVID-19 Young Adult Survey
Are you 18-29 years old? Please take a moment to complete our COVID-19 Young Adult Survey and help protect Chicago.
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Chicago Travel Quarantine List
On Thursday, July 2, CDPH Commissioner Allison Arwady, M.D., issued an Emergency Travel Order directing
travelers entering or returning to Chicago from states experiencing a
surge in new COVID-19 cases to quarantine for a 14-day period from the
time of last contact within the identified state. The list will be
updated every Tuesday and go into effect the following Friday at 12:01
a.m.
As of October 23, travelers from the following states and territories should quarantine upon arrival in Chicago:
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- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arkansas
- Colorado
- Delaware
- Idaho
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
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- New Mexico
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Puerto Rico
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
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