Mask mandates already have been removed in more than 150 school districts around the state after a judge blocked Gov. A post shared by Chicago Gourmet (@chicago_gourmet). Chicago business owners frustrated; city's restrictions may not lift with Illinois mask mandate end COVID Illinois: City of Chicago vaccine mandate, face mask requirements may not end. The stakes of the appeals court proceedings has been heightened recently as other states and some health providers ramped up pressure on federal officials to end a national COVID-19 vaccine mandate for medical workers. Chicago workers can pay for tests instead of getting COVID-19 vaccine until the end of the year By Claudia Morell. All Rights Reserved. Additionally, proof of vaccination is requiredat indoor restaurants, entertainment venues, gyms and other indoor facilities throughout the city. In making the announcement Tuesday, Lightfoot thanked residents who have complied with the rules and acknowledged the hardships that have resulted from the pandemic and resulting restrictions, citing the restaurant industry in particular. All rights reserved. As Lightfoot lifted her mandates, she told residents to respect the wishes of businesses that choose to require masks or proof-of-vaccination. Fundraising efforts for the three-year-old Twisted Hippo were spearheaded by Mikerphone Brewing in Elk Grove Village and quickly drew support from other Chicago area breweries including Half Acre, Pipeworks, Lo Rez, and Skeleton Key Brewing in suburban Woodridge. By submitting your email, you agree to our, The freshest news from the local food world, Chicago Restaurant Vaccine Mandate Could Be Lifted By Spring Whatever That Means, Sign up for the The move comes amid improving COVID-19 metrics. See How All 50 Wards Voted in the 2023 Chicago Mayoral Election, All Eyes On a Strong' System That Could Hit Chicago Area Friday, But Much Uncertainty Remains, Who is Brandon Johnson? Illinois seven-day test positivity rate, which measures the percentage of tests that were positive, was at 3.8 percent. Thanks for subscribing to Block Club Chicago, an independent, 501(c)(3), journalist-run newsroom. The vaccine requirement for restaurants, bars, gyms and other indoor public settings where food and beverages are served went into effect on January 3 in response to the alarming rise in COVID-19 cases both locally and nationally, driven in part by the Omicron variant. Testing in Chicago is up 17 percent from a week ago. But rather than risk yet another confrontation with the Chicago Teachers Union and with vaccination rates varying dramatically between school communities Lightfoot and CPS CEO Pedro Martinez said they will abide by the agreement struck with CTU that ended a dispute that canceled classes for five days last month. Then, a party of five leaves because all five of em do not have the vaccine. It wouldnt be worth confusing residents to continue the mandates, so long as Chicago has hit at least three of its goals and numbers are declining, she said. Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Feb. 22, 2022, as she announces the city will be ending its indoor mask requirement in most locations on Feb. 28. Bowling Green, OH 43402 CHICAGO Illinois' mask mandate is ending Feb. 28. A federal judge last week denied a request from Chicago-based fast food giant McDonalds to toss out a discrimination lawsuit brought by Byron Allen, the high-profile businessman and media mogul behind the Weather Channel, according to Crains. Its at 2 percent. Masks are also now optional for attendees. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune). Chicago officials announced they'll also lift the city's . Dr. Allison Arwady, commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health, holds a face mask while speaking on Feb. 22, 2022. That's just that's just how it isAnd we're getting really close and that is thanks to Chicagoans.". The head of the Chicago Department of Public Health, Dr. Allison Arwady, said that in a gathering of 50 people, there is now a 1-in-5 chance that someone in that group has COVID-19, versus a 1-in-2 chance a week ago. Based on key data, it looks as if the worst of the Omicron surge is behind us and we will be able to safely remove these emergency measures instituted to protect the health and safety of our residents, said Mayor Lightfoot. We have made great progress in recent weeks against this virus, and we do not want to jeopardize that progress by moving too quickly, CPS said in a release. Central U.S. location and a deep labor pool help Chicago snare top honor from Site Selection magazine for 10th year in a row. Allens company sued McDonalds in May 2021 , alleging that the chain almost exclusively spends ad dollars with white-owned television stations, thus discriminating against Black-owned networks like his own. This includes directly interviewing sources and research / analysis of primary source documents. Eli Lilly cuts insulin prices up to 70% amid pressure to slash costs, Jurors to visit Murdaugh crime scene ahead of closing arguments, $1M winning Powerball ticket sold in Chicago. Vallas denied his comments were related to race and says his police union endorsement is from rank-and-file officers. "If it is not the 28th it won't be long after would be my expectation," she explained. Positivity rate: Chicagos positivity rate must be at 4.9 percent or lower. "As the nation . Either way, its been a burden that has occasionally resulted in confrontations between employees and customers, Toia said. The pandemic also may shape elections for mayor in other cities this year, such as Philadelphia and Houston, where incumbents cannot run again due to term limits. At times, it has led to some mixed messaging and conflict with the state. ], Lightfoot said she will not hesitate to impose new rules and mandates to protect public health in the future but said her goal is to never shut down our economy again.. Its been two years since Illinois legalized recreational marijuana, and since then, cannabis-related calls to the Illinois Poison Center have nearly doubled, the Tribune reports, from 487 in 2019 to 855 in 2021. And we must respect it, Lightfoot said. newsletter, The Return of Haymarkets Sausage Fest and 10 More Chicago Pop-Ups to Know, Logan Square Pasta Haven Daisies to Close This Weekend Ahead of Its Move, Ramen-san Brings Late-Night Fried Rice to Lincoln Park and Three More Openings, The Owners of Kalish Will Unveil a New Vegan Restaurant Next Week in Uptown, Chez Moi Bids Adieu After 11 Years and Six More Restaurant Closings. The mask mandate and proof-of-vaccine requirement will also end on Monday in suburban Cook County, officials said. What to Know About the Cook County Commissioner After Advancing to the Runoff Election. "We got to see the day to get there. It makes me angry," he said. The news was met with mixed reactions. Beginning Jan. 3, anyone age 5 and older will be required to show proof of full vaccination to dine inside or visit gyms or entertainment venues where food and drinks are being served, joining. Lightfoot announced the latest move as the national trend turns against masking and other restrictions due to broader social desires to return to normal, though some doctors and activists caution against people dropping their guard. Thats tough. Phone: 419-352-4611 Its been a tough January and February for restaurant operators, he said. He knows how hes going to do it.. Heres what we know and what it means for schools, Chicago and the suburbs. Masks will still be required on public transportation, in healthcare settings, and in certain school districts, including the Chicago Public Schools. Aaron Rodgers hasnt won a super bowl since Obamas first term, the tweet notes. Indicates that a Newsmaker/Newsmakers was/were physically present to report the article from some/all of the location(s) it concerns. The fires origins remain in question Fire Department investigators say it likely began in a gangway between Twisted Hippo and the apartments and officials are probing the 72 pending court cases associated with landlord Gary Carlson. J.B. Pritzker was optimistically predicting an end to the statewide mask mandate by Thanksgiving. A few months ago they said they didnt know who I was. Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady said Tuesday that based on the way the city's COVID-19 numbers are trending, proof of vaccination requirements could be lifted . Let's not play games with the numbers, and let's let the economy roll," said Leonard DeFranco, co-owner of Hawkeye's Bar And Grill. In those areas, masks are no longer necessary, according to the agency. Got a story tip? Johnson has avoided the word defund during the race, and his campaign says he does not want to cut the number of police officers. Subscribe to Block Club Chicago,an independent, 501(c)(3), journalist-run newsroom. The ruling is the latest chapter in McDonalds long legal saga regarding claims of racial discrimination. Scott Weiner, partner 19 Chicago restaurants including West Town Bakery, said removing the mask mandate could be a major step toward normalcy. From your lips to Gods ears, she replied. Regardless of tonights outcome, we fought the right fights and we put this city on a better path, Lightfoot said. As of Tuesday, the citys test positivity rate of 1.5%, was in the low transmission category, while its rate of occupied hospital and ICU beds was in lower transmission. The seven-day rolling average of new daily cases was still at substantial transmission at 283 cases, but all those categories were decreasing. After Pritzker announced the state's mask mandate would end Monday, Lightfoot said Chicago would only follow suit two weeks after three of the four metrics health officials use to assess the risk of COVID-19 transmission hit a "lower rate." Two weeks is a full incubation period for COVID-19, according to federal health officials. While COVID case numbers and hospitalizations have been on a downward trend in Chicago, Mayor Lori Lightfoot won't commit to eliminating the mask and vaccine mandate in indoor spaces by the end of the month, in line with the state's plan. Learn more atLearn more at Chicago.gov/COVIDVax. But opponents blamed Lightfoot for an increase in crime that occured in cities across the U.S. during the pandemic and criticized her as being a divisive, overly contentious leader. Chicago was supposed to hit three out of four COVID-19 milestones for two weeks before it'd drop the city's mandates. The city of Chicago plans to end both its indoor mask mandate and its proof-of-vaccination mandate by the end of the month, in line with Illinois' timeline to drop the statewide indoor mask . We look forward to the day when we can be mask-optional at CPS, but we still need to get more students vaccinated across our district, and we still need to work with our public health and labor partners on the best way to preserve a safe in-person learning environment for all.. CHICAGO (AP) Paul Vallas and Brandon Johnson will meet in a runoff to be the next mayor of Chicago after voters on Tuesday denied incumbent Lori Lightfoot a second term, issuing a rebuke to a leader who made history as head of the nations third-largest city. Most of these cases have involved edibles, specifically edibles accidentally eaten by children or unwitting visitors like grandparents or babysitters. But Chicago Public Schools is a notable exception and will continue to require masking. Block Club Chicago has more on San Franciscos victory, the scene at Wieners Circle, and a pressing staff update: legendary late-night insult artist Roberta Poochie Jackson is making videos for fans on Cameo for $50 apiece. Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced that Chicago will drop its mask mandate for most settings, as well as its proof-of-vaccination mandate at restaurants, bars and other indoor establishments, at the end of the month, reflecting a renewed hope for normalcy in the city as COVID-19 cases continue dropping from alarming highs.