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Phase 4 allows for the safe reopening or expansion
of several key business segments – such as health and fitness,
movies and theater, museums and zoos, as well as indoor dining at
restaurants. Phase 4 also allows for expanded gathering sizes,
increasing the limit from 10 in Phase 3, to 50 people or fewer. This
expanded gathering limit extends to key activities like meetings,
events, and funerals. For full guidance and other resources visit:
Illinois.gov/business
guidelines.
“Over the last four months, Illinoisans have pulled together with
the common mission of keeping each other safe. By staying home and
practicing social distancing, the rate of new COVID-19 cases
continues to drop and each region throughout the state is prepared
to move to Phase 4 of the Restore Illinois plan,” said Governor JB
Pritzker. “Science and data are the overarching guardrails for how
Illinois will keep moving forward. By continuing to wear face
coverings and following the guidance from health experts we can
continue to safely reopen our economy and move forward together.
“The state of Illinois has made great progress in slowing the spread
of COVID-19, largely because of the measures our administration
enacted to protect residents and communities during this public
health crisis,” said Illinois Department of Public Health Director
Dr. Ngozi Ezike. “Our strategy to encourage social distancing and
expand testing and contact tracing will enable Illinois communities
to continue to take steps to reopen, to return to work and to resume
daily activities.”
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and the Illinois
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) collaborated
closely with local governments, businesses, and other stakeholders
in the development of guidelines for Phase 4. In all, more than 150
businesses and regional partners were consulted on the guidelines
developed with IDPH to ensure alignment with the State’s Restore
Framework and the latest public health data.
“From the beginning, our administration has worked tirelessly to
find solutions for businesses and communities impacted by this
crisis so they can reopen safely,” said DCEO Acting Director,
Michael Negron. “These new guidelines for Phase 4 represent our
continued progress in overcoming the virus and will make way for
hundreds of thousands more to return to work, and for more
Illinoisans and Illinois businesses to come back into the economy.”
To ensure businesses can reopen safely, the state released a common
set of standards expected of all employers, while also outlining
industry-specific guidelines using a risk-based approach to support
unique operational needs of businesses across the state. Industry
guidance will help businesses and residents feel safe in returning
to many of these new activities that have been closed for the past
several months.
Phase 4 of the Restore Illinois plan creates safety guidelines
for the following permitted activities and businesses to resume,
with capacity rules in place:
Meetings and events: Venues and meeting spaces can resume
with the lesser of up to 50 people OR 50% of overall room
capacity. Multiple groups are permitted given facilities have
space to appropriately social distance and can limit interaction
between groups. This includes activities such as conferences and
weddings.
Indoor and Outdoor recreation: Revised guidelines to allow
select indoor recreation facilities (e.g., bowling alleys, skating
rinks), as well as clubhouses to reopen. Indoor recreation to
operate at lesser of 50 customers OR 50% of facility capacity
with outdoor recreation allowing group sizes of up to 50, and
permitting multiple groups given facilities have space to
appropriately social distance and can limit interaction between
groups; concessions permitted with restrictions.
Indoor Dining: Indoor dining can reopen with groups of 10 or less,
with tables spaced 6-feet apart in seated areas and with standing
areas at no more than 25% of capacity.
Museums: Can reopen with no more than 25% occupancy, and
with interactive exhibits and rides closed; guided tours should be
limited to 50 people or fewer per group; museums should have a plan
to limit congregation via advance ticket sales and timed ticketing;
concessions permitted with restrictions.
Zoos: Can reopen with no more than 25% occupancy, and
with interactive exhibits, indoor exhibits, and rides closed; guided
tours should be limited to 50 people or fewer per group; zoos should
have a plan to limit congregation via advance ticket sales and timed
ticketing; concessions permitted with restrictions.
Cinema and Theatre: Indoor seated theaters, cinemas, and
performing arts centers to allow admission of the lesser of up to
50 guests OR 50% of overall theater or performance space
capacity (applies to each screening room); outdoor capacity
limited to 20% of overall theater or performance space capacity;
concessions permitted with restrictions.
Outdoor seated spectator events: Outdoor spectator sports can
resume with no more than 20% of seating capacity; concessions
permitted with restrictions.
Film production: Allow no more than 50% of sound stage or filming
location capacity; crowd scenes should be limited to 50 people or
fewer.
Industries with revised guidelines in Phase 4:
Youth and Recreational Sports: Revised guidelines allow
competitive gameplay and tournaments; youth and recreational sports
venues can operate at 50% of facility capacity, 20% seating
capacity for spectators, and group sizes up to 50 with multiple
groups permitted during practice and competitive games given venues
have space to appropriately social distance and can limit
interaction between groups; concessions permitted with restrictions.
Health and fitness centers: Revised guidelines allow gyms to
open at 50% capacity and allow group fitness classes of up to
50 people with new safety guidelines for indoors, with multiple
groups permitted given facilities have space to appropriately social
distance and can limit interaction between groups.
Day camps: Water-based activities permitted in accordance
with IDPH guidelines; no more than 50% of facility capacity
with group size of no more than 15 participants in a group,
unless participants changing weekly.
Additionally, retail, service counters, offices, personal
care (including salons, barber, nail salons), manufacturing and
other industries allowed to reopen in Phase 3 will continue to
operate at a reduced capacity.
To help businesses prepare to reopen and remain in compliance with
new guidelines over the next two weeks, DCEO has released a new set
of downloadable materials. Business toolkits are complete with
signage, training checklists and other resources to help business
owners and workers implement safety procedures and adhere to the
latest capacity restrictions. Materials for businesses and operators
pertaining to Phases 3 and 4 of the Restore Plan, can be found at
Illinois.gov/businessguidelines.
During Phase 4, common public health standards remain in effect –
including the use of face coverings and social distancing.
Industry-specific guidelines may vary but are designed to help
employers, workers and residents feel safe in transitioning to the
next phase of reopening the state.
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All industries should continue to conduct regular
cleanings, employee health screenings upon entry and mid-shift, and
allow employees who can continue working from home to do so.
The state’s move to Phase 4 of the plan is expected
to bring approximately 400,000 additional Illinoisans back to the
workplace across all industries. While Phase 4 marks the return of 7
percent of the state’s workforce, it accounts for about $30 billion
in annual GDP returned to operations and represents continuous
progress towards fully reopening the state’s economy.
Phase 4 guidelines were designed by the Department of Commerce and
Economic Opportunity (DCEO) in coordination with the Illinois
Department of Public Health (IDPH) to ensure that as more activities
and businesses resume operations, policies are in place to protect
the health and safety of Illinois residents.
To help businesses that have been impacted or closed as a result of
COVID-19, earlier this week Governor Pritzker announced an
additional $85 million will be made available through two new grant
programs designed to help alleviate the burden for businesses hit
hardest by COVID-19. The new Business Interruption Grants Program
(BIG) will make $60 million available for up to 3,500 businesses
experiencing losses and/or unable to fully reopen until Phase 4 or
5. This program is earmarked specifically for restaurants which
haven’t been permitted to allow outdoor dining, health and fitness
centers, barbershops and salons, and other businesses located in
disproportionately impacted areas (DIAs) of the state.
The second initiative, the Distressed Capital Program brings forward
$25 million in Rebuild Illinois capital funds to help those
businesses sustaining damages as a result of events related to civil
unrest begin to restore and repair. Both programs will give priority
to minority-owned businesses, or businesses located in DIAs.
Together, these programs mark over $150 million in assistance made
available since the onset of COVID-19 to help businesses with urgent
needs. More information on these programs and other available grant
opportunities can be found on DCEO's website.
“Today’s announcement confirms that the state of Illinois is ready
to safely reopen,” said Sam Toia, President and CEO, Illinois
Restaurant Association. “As one of the most highly regulated
industries when it comes to health and sanitation standards,
restaurants are ready and equipped to safely welcome guests back for
dine-in service, and with the world-class hospitality diners have
missed. These guidelines will also greatly help restaurants begin to
recover from this catastrophic business period. We commend Governor
Pritzker and his team on a well-informed approach that keeps public
health the priority while acknowledging restaurants’ expertise and
giving our industry hope for a rebound.”
“We think the state's Phase IV guidelines are a good step forward to
getting the film production industry back to work and to where we
were before the shut down,” said Mark Hogan, Business
Manager/Secretary Treasurer of IATSE Local 476 Chicago Studio
Mechanics. “We are making the safety of our crews priority number
one, and we will work within these guidelines to ensure everyone on
a production remains safe and healthy."
"As a minority woman in a male dominated industry, the State's
minority owned business grant presents boundless opportunities for
the continued growth and competitiveness of my company -- all while
we continue to navigate the impacts of this crisis,” said Edith De
La Cruz, President of Antigua Construction. “State assistance will
allow me to move from a small storefront operation to a new company
headquarters with dedicated space for project management, estimating
and a training center. I am grateful to the Governor and the State
of Illinois for their continued guidance on reopening and for
putting in place programs to help minority and women owned
businesses succeed.”
“When we learned we were awarded a $10,000 DCEO Hospitality
Emergency Grant, we were not only thankful, but relieved,” said Casa
Mia Lounge and Restaurant owner Phil Hoffman. “The grant helped us
get through May, and now new state guidance allows us to look
forward to Phase 4 and fully reopening when it is safe to do so.”
“The advertising industry is anxious to begin filming commercial
work again and progressing to phase 4 will allow many more
productions to consider filming in Illinois safely,” said Lisa
Masseur, AICP Midwest President and EP / Founder of Tessa Films. “We
look forward to the influx in business and getting back to work
safely with the local talent and crew in IL.”
“The Illinois State Alliance of YMCAs surveyed thousands of our
members across the state and participated in countless peer learning
discussions with Y’s across the country who have reopened safely. We
are grateful to DCEO for allowing us the opportunity to share this
feedback as they solicited input for reopening fitness centers and
youth sports programs safely during Phase 4,” said Mike Wennekamp,
President of the Illinois State Alliance of YMCAs and CEO of Two
Rivers YMCA. "As the leader in making healthy lifestyles accessible
to everyone in Illinois, regardless of income or background, our top
priority is always the safety of every YMCA constituent, employee
and guest.”
“No one works harder to promote health and fitness than the 58,000
Illinoisans of the health club and fitness studio industry,” said
Steven Schwartz, CEO of Midtown Athletic Clubs and Chair of the
Illinois Fitness Alliance. “Clubs and studios are excited to welcome
their members back to a safe and clean environment to resume their
fitness routines. A strong immune system is the best defense and
nothing takes a bigger toll on your body than a sedentary lifestyle.
Our industry is made up of small businesses and we’ve been taken to
the brink. These guidelines are a first step for clubs and studios
to get back on their feet. We appreciate The Governor’s team of DCEO
and IDPH staff working with us to safely reopen. We are committed to
making Illinois stronger!”
“Today's announcement marks the first steps forward for our cultural
sector to begin its gradual reopening process for museums, cinemas,
and performing arts venues,” said Claire Rice, Executive Director,
Arts Alliance Illinois. “We look forward to continuing to work with
Illinois public health officials as Phase 4 progresses, to
prioritize health and safety while exploring every possible
opportunity to get our incredible creative community working and
fully contributing to the innovation and inspiration economy across
our state once again.”
“Very early during this pandemic, DCEO was ray of light during a
time when no one knew what was happening, what was next,” said
Johanna Torres, CEO of the Language Loop, LLC. “Thanks to DCEO’s
guidance and immeasurable support, my small business was able to
obtain funds from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the
Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program that we desperately
needed to continue providing our language training services. We also
appreciate the guidance provided to businesses like our so that we
can make plans to reopen in a way that's safe for our employees as
well as customers.”
[Office of the Governor JB Pritzker] |
