Dear Neighbors,
Mayor Lightfoot announced today that the city is "cautiously optimistic" that we will reach the health metrics necessary to move the city to Phase 3 of the
Protecting Chicago framework within the next week or so
.
This will include the reopening, with capacity limits, of childcare and in-home daycare, park facilities west of the lakefront, Chicago Public Library locations, professional services, real estate services, hotels and lodging, limited outdoor attractions, partial reopening of restaurants and coffee shops, barber shops & hair/nail salons and non-essential retail. The Mayor will announce more detailed guidance and information about each type of industry next week.
The Mayor highlighted that the total number of new cases and ICU admissions are declining, but t
he community spread metric (which are cases that are diagnosed outside of congregate care locations like nursing homes, shelters and jails) is still at 20.5%, higher than the city's goal of 15%.
The Mayor stressed that while our current projections may allow us to go to Phase Three, it will not happen unless the metrics are hit. "It depends on the steps that you take between now and then," particularly:
- When in the presence of others, keeping 6 feet of physical distance apart and wearing a face covering
- Limiting non-business, social gatherings to <10 persons
- Staying at home if you feel ill or have come into contact with someone with COVID-19
- Continuing to physically distance from vulnerable populations
- Getting tested if you have symptoms
Cook County has the more Covid-19 cases than anywhere else in the country.
We are all hopeful that the city continues to make progress so we can visit our neighborhood restaurants and other places, even with limitations.
For more details, read the
Mayor's press release. You can see the presentation given at the Mayor's press conference today
here.
