Chicago announced Monday that it will tighten coronavirus restrictions, including for bars, restaurants, gyms, and personal services, as it experiences an increase in COVID-19 cases.
The city reinstatement of restrictions, which will take effect on Friday at 12:01 am, It occurs when Chicago has seen its seven-day average increase in new cases, reaching more than 200 per day.
“Throughout the pandemic, data has guided every move made by the City, and the recent increase in cases, as well as the increasing activity of COVID-19 in other states of the country, is cause for concern and motivated this move. to delay reopening at certain high levels. risky environments, “said a press release from Mayor Lori Lightfoot (D) and the Chicago Department of Health and the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection.
The restrictions will ban indoor service in bars and other companies that sell alcohol, but outdoor service will still be allowed. Restaurants can serve indoors with a maximum table size of six people.
Indoor gym classes will not be allowed for more than 10 people, and personal services that require a person to remove the covering from their face, such as shaving and facials, will be restricted. Residential property managers are instructed to allow only five guests per unit to avoid indoor meetings.
“We have made so much progress here in Chicago to contain the spread of the virus, protect our health system and save lives, and overall, the virus remains under control locally. But again we are seeing a steady increase in new cases, “Lightfoot said in a statement. “While we are not near the peak of the pandemic earlier this year, neither of us wants to go back there, and we believe these restrictions will help limit further spread of the community.”
On Sunday, Chicago’s seven-day average of new cases reached 233. The city attributes the increase in cases “in part” to an increase in cases among people ages 18 to 29 who meet in bars, restaurants, parks and on the shore of the lake. .
The press release also pointed to a higher positive percentage, or the percentage of people tested who receive positive results, after that number dropped for weeks.
The city Has confirmed 57,148 cases of COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic, leading to 2,727 deaths.
The restrictions also come as other areas of the country are experiencing sudden increases in coronavirus cases, prompting the city to issue mandatory 14-day quarantines for those coming from states with increasing cases.
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