The Municipal Code of Chicago authorizes the Commissioner of Public Health to implement emergency measures to stop the spread of COVID-19, as well as determine when the threat to public health posed by COVID-19 has diminished to the point that such measures may be repealed. The Chicago Department of Public Health issued several orders in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This Repealer now rescinds the listed orders specified in its contents, as well as the City of Chicago Substitute Ordinance 2021-1219 regarding COVID-19.
Review the COVID Repealer here: COVID Repealer
The Illinois Open Meetings Act (OMA) is a state law that requires meetings of public bodies be open to the public. Under Section 7 of the Open Meetings Act (5 ILCS 120/7), meetings can be held by audio or video conference, instead of in person, only if a number of conditions are met, including that “the Governor or the Director of the Illinois Department of Public Health has issued a disaster declaration related to public health concerns.”
With the end of the state emergency related to COVID-19 on May 11, 2023, public body meetings will again need to be held in person rather than by audio or video conference. For example, all City Council hearings and public board meetings will need to resume in-person.
Read a summary of these changes, frequently asked questions and links to additional resources pertaining to the OMA: IL OMA 05.11.23
This order establishes protocols for acute care facilities and hospitals in order to mitigate the impact of COVID-19. The protocols include policies for reducing personal protective equipment waste, safety restrictions on hospital visitors, monitoring employees for symptoms of COVID-19, and COVID-19 reporting requirements. The amended order permits all acute care hospitals to implement visitor restrictions based on CDPH requirements, which may be periodically updated and distributed via the Health Alert Network based on community risk level. The order continues to require congregate facilities to report clusters of COVID-19 patients.
This order requires health care providers within the City of Chicago to provide to the Chicago Department of Public Health data on COVID-19-related testing, vaccinations, clinical care, and treatments.
Read the full order No. 2020-4 and guidance.
This order requires any individual 5 years of age or older to show proof that they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to dine indoors, visit gyms, or enjoy entertainment venues where food or drink are being served. Read the full order No. 2021-2.
Repealed: February 28, 2022
The Commissioner of Health has concluded that this order can safely be repealed because the threat to public health posed by COVID-19 has diminished.
Read the repealer here.
This order requires any individual, regardless of vaccination status, who is age two or older and able to medically tolerate a mask (a paper, fabric or cloth filter that securely covers the nose and mouth) to wear a mask indoors in any public place. Read the full order No. 2021-1.
The Commissioner of Health has concluded the this order can safely be repealed because the threat to public health posed by COVID-19 has diminished.
Read the repealer here.
This order establishes protocols for acute care facilities and hospitals in order to mitigate the impact of COVID-19. The protocols include policies for reducing personal protective equipment waste, safety restrictions on hospital visitors, monitoring employees for symptoms of COVID-19, and COVID-19 reporting requirements. The amended order permits all acute care hospitals to implement visitor restrictions based on CDPH requirements, which may be periodically updated and distributed via the Health Alert Network based on community risk level. The order continues to require congregate facilities to report clusters of COVID-19 patients.
This order no longer requires bars or taverns that do not serve food to partner with a licensed retail food establishment to offer food to patrons.
This order no longer provides restrictions on bars and restaurants during standard hours and permits late hour liquor licensees to operate without restriction for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began if only vaccinated patrons are permitted to enter during late hours. Liquor stores must continue to cease sales of liquor after 11 PM.
This order outlines adjustments for the Bridge Phase of reopening. It includes loosened restrictions for fully vaccinated individuals and follows the CDC and State of Illinois guidance regarding masks.
This order requires the closure of all liquor stores by 11 pm. Restaurants and bars must close by 1 am (there is no separate curfew for the sale of alcohol). This order ensures that there are no congregations of people that could result in increased transmission of COVID-19.
Read the full order No. 2020-5.
The Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) released updated guidance to address questions regarding the minimal standards and timeframe to meet Public Health Order 2020-4 which requires acute and long term hospitals to provide CDPH access to electronic health records for the purposes of collecting essential data on patients tested for COVID-19. CDPH is defining May 6, 2020, as the date by which the minimal standards for reporting should be in place. The most recent technical guidance on data transmission to meet this Public Health order is linked below, and can be found at the CDPH HAN page . Additionally, CDPH provided clarity for all healthcare providers regarding necessary data to be collected and submitted with all COVID-19 tests.
The Stay-at-Home Advisory has been extended, and the Travel Order policy has been updated in response to new CDC guidelines.
This order maintains the closure of all liquor stores at 9 p.m., but it permits restaurants and bars to sell liquor as late as 11 p.m. (with establishment closures by 12:00 a.m.). This order ensures that there are no congregations of people that could result in increased transmission of COVID-19.
Read the full order No. 2020-5.
The order imposing a business curfew from 11:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. for all non-essential businesses is repealed.
Read the repealer for No. 2020-11.
This order establishes protocols for acute care facilities and hospitals in order to mitigate the impact of COVID-19. The protocols include policies for reducing personal protective equipment waste, safety restrictions on hospital visitors, monitoring employees for symptoms of COVID-19, and COVID-19 reporting requirements. The amended order permits all acute care hospitals to implement visitor restrictions based on CDPH requirements, which may be periodically updated and distributed via the Health Alert Network based on community risk level. The order continues to require congregate facilities to report clusters of COVID-19 patients.
This order cites Governor Pritzker's Executive Order, 2020-64, includes new Section 8 specifying a restrictive rule imposed by the Governor supersedes a city rule, and simplifies the definition of ""Prohibited Gatherings" in Attachment A.
Under this amended Stay-at-Home Advisory, Sections 3 and 7 were adjusted to maintain consistency with the Governor’s latest Mitigation Measures.
Beginning on Monday, November 16, 2020, residents are advised to stay at home in response to the rapid rise of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in the city and only leave home to go to work or school, or for essential needs such as seeking medical care, going to the grocery store or pharmacy, picking up take-out food, or receiving deliveries. Additionally, residents are strongly advised to not have guests in their homes, cancel traditional Thanksgiving celebrations, and avoid travel. The advisory also outlines additional COVID-19 alerts and regulations such as further limitations on indoor and outdoor meetings and social events, increased enforcement of limits on private gatherings, and continues industry restrictions.
Under this amended Emergency Travel Order, states will be placed in three categories – red, orange and yellow – based on the status of the outbreak in the states and how the data compares to the situation in Chicago.
Under this order, a business curfew will be in effect from 11:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. for all non-essential businesses.
This order maintains the closure of all liquor stores at 9pm, but it permits restaurants and bars to sell liquor as late as 11:00 p.m. This order ensures that there are no congregations of people that could result in increased transmission of COVID-19.
This order outlines a re-tightening of COVID-19 restrictions in response to a recent, rapid rise in cases and hospitalizations. Under this order, a business curfew will be in effect from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. for all non-essential businesses, and bars without a retail food license will no longer be able to serve customers indoors. All Chicagoans are being asked to avoid social gatherings of more than six people and end all social gatherings by 10:00 p.m.
This order outlines adjustments to the Phase IV: Gradually Resume guidelines for Chicago establishments. Under the order, businesses remain open with adjusted capacities, as long as they follow mask-wearing, social distancing, and other requirements. The order also maintains the Lakefront closure, and requires businesses with COVID-19 outbreaks to report these to the Chicago Department of Public Health.
This order maintains the closure of all liquor stores at 9pm, but it permits restaurants and bars to sell liquor as late as 1am (with establishment closures by 1:30am). This order ensures that there are no congregations of people that could result in increased transmission of COVID-19.
This order establishes protocols for acute care facilities and hospitals in order to mitigate the impact of COVID-19. The protocols include policies for reducing personal protective equipment waste, safety restrictions on hospital visitors, monitoring employees for symptoms of COVID-19, and COVID-19 reporting requirements. The amended order permits hospitals to implement their own limited visitor policies taking into consideration local disease epidemiology. The amended order also clarifies reporting requirements for acute care hospitals located in the City.
The order requires congregate facilities to report clusters of COVID-19 patients. The amended order imposes a reporting requirement for all businesses and establishments licensed under Title 4 of the municipal code to report to CDPH any suspension in operations due to COVID-19 cases among employees or patrons, or any instance in which the business learns that five or more employees or patrons have tested positive for COVID-19 within a 14-day period.
In response to increased and high rates of COVID-19 transmission in certain states within the United States, and to add to Chicago’s efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19, Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner Allison Arwady, M.D., issued an Emergency Travel Order directing travelers entering or returning to Chicago from states experiencing a surge in new COVID-19 cases to quarantine for a period of 14 days. The order applies to states that have a case rate greater than 15 new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 resident population, per day, over a 7- day rolling average.
Read the full order No. 2020-10 or see these Frequently Asked Questions.
This order cautiously reopens Chicago’s businesses. Under the order, businesses may reopen, as long as they follow mask-wearing, social distancing, and other requirements. The order also maintains the Lakefront closure.
This order maintains the closure of all liquor stores at 9 pm, but it permits restaurants to sell liquor as late as 11 pm. This order ensures that there are no congregations of people that could result in increased transmission of COVID-19.
On March 19, 2020, Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health, Dr. Arwady, issued required protocols for acute care facilities and hospitals in order to mitigate the impact of COVID-19. The protocols included policies for reducing personal protective equipment waste, safety restrictions on hospital visitors, checking employees for symptoms of COVID-19 at the beginning and end of each shift, COVID-19 reporting requirements, and the postponement of elective surgeries and medical procedures. On May 12, 2020, Order 2020-2 was amended to remove the requirement that elective surgeries and medical procedures be postponed.
This second amended order removes the requirement to check employees for symptoms of COVID-19 at the end of each shift but maintains the requirement to check staff at the start of each shift. The remainder of the requirements in the May 12, 2020 amended order are retained, until such time as the Commissioner determines the threat to public health posed by COVID-19 has diminished to the point that they can be repealed.