IDPH: Indoor dining can resume for McHenry, Lake, Kane and DuPage counties as they move to Tier 1 Tuesday

Indoor dining can legally resume in McHenry, Lake, DuPage and Kane counties, effective Tuesday, as the four counties all moved forward to Tier 1 of the state’s COVID-19 mitigations.

Also, higher risk high school sports such as basketball and football can hold scrimmages.

What it means for Regions 8 and 9:

Restaurants and Bars

• Indoor service limited to the lesser of 25 guests or 25% capacity per room

• Establishments offering indoor service must serve food

• All bar and restaurant patrons should be seated at tables

• No ordering, seating, or congregating at bar (bar stools should be removed)

• Tables should be 6 feet apart

• No standing or congregating indoors or outdoors while waiting for a table or exiting

Organized Group Recreational Activities

(fitness centers, sports, etc.)

Sports should follow the mitigation measures set forth in the All Sports Policy, which outlines appropriate levels of practice and competition based on individual sport risk

• Face coverings must be worn at all times in fitness centers, including while engaged in individual exercise regardless of person or machine spacing

• Recreation, fitness centers and outdoor activities (not included in the above exposure settings) follow Phase 4 guidance

Meetings and Social Events

(including weddings, funerals, potlucks, etc.)

• Limit to lesser of 25 guests or 25% of overall room capacity both indoors and outdoors Applicable to professional, cultural and social group gatherings. Not applicable to students participating in-person classroom learning or sports. This does not reduce the overall facility capacity dictated by general Phase 4 business guidance such as office, personal care, retail, etc.

“IDPH will continue to closely monitor test positivity, ICU bed availability, and the number of people in the hospital with COVID-19,” according to a news release from IDPH. “Should data show regions trending in the wrong direction, based on the established mitigation metrics, regions could once again find themselves in a higher tier with increased measures.”

Metrics for moving from a higher to lower tier are as follows:

Moving from Tier 3 to Tier 2

• Test positivity rate ≥ 8% and below 12% for three consecutive days (7-day average); AND
• Staffed ICU bed availability ≥ 20% for three consecutive days (7-day average); AND
• Sustained decline in COVID-19 patients in hospital (7-day average for 7 of 10 days)

Moving from Tier 2 to Tier 1

• Test positivity rate between 6.5% and 8% for three consecutive days (7-day average); AND
• Staffed ICU bed availability ≥ 20% for three consecutive days (7-day average); AND
• No sustained increase in COVID-19 patients in hospital (7-day average for 7 of 10 days)

Moving from Tier 1 to Phase 4

• Test positivity rate ≤ 6.5% for three consecutive days (7-day average); AND
• Staffed ICU bed availability ≥ 20% for three consecutive days (7-day average); AND
• No sustained increase in COVID-19 patients in hospital (7-day average for 7 of 10 days)