Chicago’s Top Doc Warns Against Increasing Dining Party Sizes At Restaurants

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West Loop and Fulton Market restaurants want to increase the max people per table from six to 10

Restaurant owners in the West Loop and Fulton Market want to seat dining parties bigger than what the city currently allows, saying the restriction is hurting business that’s already suffering. The owners of Formento’s and Kuma’s Corner are among owners who want Mayor Lori Lightfoot to increase the maximum number of folks seated a tables from six to 10. A letter has been sent to aldermen on the behalf of restaurant owners in the two restaurant-heavy neighborhoods asking for the city for another coronavirus lifeline.

When Chicago’s restaurants reopened for outdoor dining in June, the city limited customers to a maximum of six people per table. Officials increased that number to 10 in late June, as the also allowed dining rooms and bars to reopen. As COVID-19 numbers surged, the city closed bars again on July 24. Restaurants could continue to serve customers indoors, but the city decreased maximum number of people that could sit at a table. The number went back from 10 to six.

Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady was blunt Tuesday morning a response to the request: “Not a chance, not right now, not as numbers are on their way up,” she said at a morning news conference.

By Ashok Selvam
August 4, 2020,
Source and Complete article: Eater.com