Industry Specific Phase Guidelines

The State of Illinois has moved into the Bridge Phase as of May 14. The Bridge Phase is a bridge between the current Phase 4 Guidelines we are in, to Phase 5 which would open all capacity limits. The details of the Bridge Phase can be found at the links below. The full Executive Order will list industry-specific guidelines. If numbers continue to improve, the State hopes to be in Phase 5 by mid June.

Those who are fully-vaccinated are no longer required to wear a mask at all times while near others. Those who are not vaccinated, still need to practice social distancing and mask guidelines while near others.

Visit https://coronavirus.illinois.gov/s/ for more details.

Table of Contents
    Add a header to begin generating the table of contents

    The Chamber has provided free printable signage to help promote social distancing requirements. Visit here for the printable signs.

    5/17/2021 - Public health requirements for businesses, nonprofits, and other organizations

    • All Businesses

      All businesses must:
      • Ensure that employees who are not fully vaccinated practice social distancing and wear face coverings when social distancing is not always possible;
      • Ensure that all spaces where employees may gather, including locker rooms and lunchrooms, allow for social distancing; and
      • Ensure that all visitors (customers, vendors, etc.) to the workplace who are not fully vaccinated can practice social distancing; but if maintaining a six-foot social distance will not be possible at all times, encourage those visitors to wear face coverings; and
      • Continue to take all necessary steps to protect employees and customers by ensuring that any return to work plans adhere to all applicable public health guidance.

    • Retail Stores

      Retail stores must ensure all employees who are not fully vaccinated practice social distancing and must take appropriate additional public health precautions, in accordance with DCEO guidance, which include:
      • Provide face coverings to all employees who are not fully vaccinated and who are not able to maintain a minimum six-foot social distance from customers and other employees at all times;
      • Cap occupancy at 60 percent of store capacity, or, alternatively, at the occupancy limits based on store square footage set by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity; and
      • Communicate with customers through in-store signage, and public service announcements and advertisements, about the social distancing and face covering requirements set forth in this Order.

    • Manufacturers

      Manufacturers must ensure all employees who are not fully vaccinated practice social distancing and must take appropriate additional public health precautions, in accordance with DCEO guidance, which include:
      • Provide face coverings to all employees who are not fully vaccinated and who are not able to maintain a minimum six-foot social distance at all times;
      • Ensure that all spaces where employees may gather, including locker rooms and lunchrooms, allow for social distancing; and
      • Modify and downsize operations (staggering shifts, reducing line speeds, operating only essential lines, while shutting down non-essential lines) to the extent necessary to allow for social distancing and to provide a safe workplace in response to the COVID-19 emergency.

    • Office Buildings

      Employers in office buildings must ensure all employees who are not fully vaccinated practice social distancing and must take appropriate additional public health precautions, in accordance with DCEO guidance, which may include:
      • Provide face coverings to all employees who are not fully vaccinated and who are not able to maintain a minimum six-foot social distance at all times;
      • Consider implementing capacity limits where the physical space does not allow for social distancing;
      • Allow telework where possible; and
      • Develop and prominently post plans and signage to ensure social distancing in shared spaces such as waiting rooms, service counters, and cafeterias.

    • Meetings, Conferences, and Conventions

      Indoor venues and meeting spaces can operate in a manner consistent with DCEO guidance.

    • Restaurants and Bars

      All businesses that offer food or beverages for on-premises consumption—including restaurants, bars, grocery stores, and food halls—may continue service for on-premises consumption, as permitted by DCEO guidance. Such businesses continue to be permitted and encouraged to serve food and beverages so that they may be consumed off premises, as permitted by law, through means such as in-house delivery, third party delivery, drive-through, and curbside pick-up. Establishments offering food or beverages for on-premises consumption or for carry-out must ensure that they have an environment where patrons who are not fully vaccinated maintain adequate social distancing. All businesses covered in this section may permit outdoor on-premises food and beverage consumption in accordance with DCEO guidance and when permitted by local ordinances and regulations.

    • Fitness and Exercise Gyms

      Fitness and exercise gyms may be open in a manner consistent with DCEO guidance, which involves operating for member workouts at a maximum of 60 percent capacity and with social distancing and other precautions.

    • Personal Services Facilities

      Personal services facilities such as spas, hair salons, barber shops, nail salons, waxing centers, tattoo parlors, and similar facilities may be open but must comply with capacity limits in accordance with DCEO guidance and must ensure the use of face coverings and adherence to social distancing requirements for individuals who are not fully vaccinated.

    • Outdoor Recreation, Youth Day Camps, and Youth Sports

      Businesses offering outdoor recreation, youth day camps, and youth sports may be open but must ensure the use of face coverings and adherence to social distancing requirements for individuals who are not fully vaccinated, and must take other public health steps in accordance with DCEO guidance.

    • Places of Public Amusement

      Places of public amusement may continue services consistent with DCEO guidance for indoor and outdoor
      recreation (including but not limited to arcades and driving ranges), museums and aquariums, zoos and botanical gardens, theaters and performing arts, and outdoor seated spectator events.

    • Film Production

      Film production may operate with restrictions contained in DCEO guidance.

    3/18/2021 - State works to move to Phase 5

    The governor announced today a bridge plan that is meant to move us from our current Phase 4 to Phase 5. Once the state's senior population reaches 70% with is first COVID-19 vaccination, maintains a 20% or lower ICU bed availability rate, and holds steady on COVID rates over a 28-day monitoring period, many businesses will be able to increase allowed capacities. This will not indicate a Phase 5 move, but a bridge phase to get there.

    • Bars and Restaurants

      • Indoor dining and drinking now permitted for parties of up to 10 people
      • Seated areas should be arranged so that tables allow for 6 feet between parties; impermeable barriers may be installed between booths which are less than 6 feet apart

    • Retail and Service Counter

      • Continue capacity limit of no more than 50% occupancy

    • Personal Care Service

      • Continue capacity limit of no more than 50% occupancy

    • Indoor/Outdoor Recreation

      • Reopening select indoor recreation facilities (e.g., bowling alleys, skating rinks); indoor playgrounds and trampoline parks should remain closed
      • Indoor recreation to operate at lesser of 50 customers or 50% of facility capacity

    • Museums

      • Capacity limit of no more than 25% occupancy
      • Guided tours should be limited to 50 or fewer people per group

    • Meetings, social events and gatherings

      • Limit to the lesser of 50 people or 50% of room capacity
      • Multiple groups may meet in the same facility if they are socially distanced and in separate rooms

    IDPH Emergency Rules

    City and Village Specific Guidelines and Ordinances

    Standardized Employee Screening Questionnaire

    Restore Illinois Mitigation Plan in case of resurgence

    Illinois has released a mitigation plan in case any of the state's regions see a resurgence. The plan from the Illinois Department of Public Health has 3 tiers with specific actions for different industries. Download the plan below.