Chicago to allow restaurants, bars to reopen indoor service

Chicago will allow bars and restaurants to resume some indoor services this Friday, aligning itself with the rest of the state.

Officials announced last week that restaurants and bars will be able to operate with 25 percent of indoor capacity, with a maximum capacity of 50 people per room or floor. Patrons must be seated at tables at least six feet apart and with no more than 10 people per table.

The change in policy, which comes a week after officials said such services would not be returning until July 1, is due to continued positive trends in the city’s COVID-19 metrics.

“Our neighborhood restaurants, bars and breweries all stand as among the most cherished parts of our communities and are integral to the fabric of our entire city,” said Mayor Lori Lightfoot. “Like all Chicagoans, I am personally excited to see them take these new, cautious steps towards safely reopening and commend their collaboration throughout this unprecedented crisis.”

Bars and breweries in the city were allowed last week to begin providing outdoor services.

Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady said if the city continues to see progress in its data, including further declines in cases, deaths and hospitalizations, that capacity at restaurants could be expanded to 50 percent.

“While we’re all excited to further re-open our city we must do it the right way and continue to follow the guidance and take the necessary precautions,” she said. “We’ve seen an increase in COVID-19 cases in cities and states that re-opened earlier than us, and we would all hate to see a similar setback here.”

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