Posted: Jul 30, 2020
Mayor Lori Lightfoot's COVID-19 restrictions are back in place for indoor bars, fitness centers and more Friday.
Starting Friday in Chicago, all bars and taverns, can no longer serve customers indoors. They must serve outside instead.
Inside restaurants, a party of six is the max, both indoors and outdoors.
New restrictions are now in effect for Chicago gyms, where indoor classes will be limited to 10 people.
Personal services that require face masks to be removed, like facials and shaves, will not be permitted anymore and property managers can only allow five guests per unit.
Officials say it's to help combat a recent rise in COVID19 cases.
"I think this is an extremely crucial moment," said Loyola University Medical Center Chief Medical Officer Kevin Smith. "The question that everybody is wondering is, okay, if we're seeing increases in these cases, are we expecting that we're going to see hospitalizations increase?"
Illinois' positivity rate is now at 3.4%. Thursday was the fourth straight day that number has gone up and it's the highest it's been in nearly six weeks, but hospitalizations are down or flat.
Many business owners are considered these new strict restrictions will cut into their already struggling business even more, especially now with baseball season back for the White Sox and Cubs.
Longtime tavern K's Dugout would normally be very busy with patrons.
"People want to come to watch the game tonight, and we don't have a TV outside so they won't be able to; so I don't know how people will show up when there are other places that have food that can still have people inside," Manager Kathy Mathis said.
Officials say the decision is to help combat a recent rise in COVID-19 cases.
By Diane Pathieu
July 24, 2020
Source and complete article: ABC7chicago.com
Go-Wine's mission is to organize food and beverage information and make it universally accessible and beneficial. These are the benefits of sharing your article in Go-Wine.com
