City implements business curfew following rising COVID cases

In response to a surge in COVID-19 cases, Chicago is implementing restrictions that limit operation hours of non-essential businesses, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot and public health officials announced Thursday, Oct. 22.

Effective 6 a.m. Friday, Oct. 23, non-essential businesses will be subject to a business curfew from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Businesses such as grocery stores, gas stations and pharmacies, which were listed as essential under the stay-at-home order in the spring, are permitted to remain open during business curfew hours.

While restaurants are allowed to continue take-out and delivery services, under the new restrictions, indoor and outdoor food and alcohol consumption must end at 10 p.m., and establishments serving alcohol for on-site consumption are required to end alcohol service at 9 p.m. prior to closing at 10 p.m. Bars, taverns and breweries without retail food licenses will be prohibited from serving customers indoors.

All other ongoing business restrictions, including indoor capacity to 40 percent or 50 people in a designated room or space, will remain in place.

Chicago residents are also asked to avoid gathering in groups of more than six people and to end social gatherings prior to 10 p.m.

“The rapid rise we’re experiencing in COVID-19 cases across all demographics, zip codes and age groups is consistent with what public health experts and responsible leaders have been predicting for months,” Lightfoot said in a news release. “This moment is a critical inflection point for Chicago, and these new restrictions and guidelines represent our ongoing effort to stay ahead of this pandemic through the data and science of this disease. Countless Chicagoans have done an outstanding job in being responsible and following public health guidance, but now we all must double-down on our commitment to our health and the health of our city in order to bend the curve and shape our future back to where it needs to be.”

During the past week, the number of daily cases has risen by 54 percent to more than 640 per day, hospitalizations have increased by 45 percent in a one-month period and the positivity rate has jumped to 6.3 percent despite an increase in the number of daily administered tests. Illinois State guidelines indicate the Chicago area could face additional restrictions, such as indoor dining closures and reduced gathering capacity if the positivity rate exceeds 8 percent for three consecutive days.