Chicago is seeing a rolling seven-day average of 135 new COVID cases per day, which is down 44% from last week and under the 200 cases per day metric that the city s health officials have long said would indicate that the pandemic s spread is more under control.
Hospitalizations are down 57% from the prior week as of Thursday and deaths are down to an average of four per day, city data shows. The percent positivity in coronavirus testing was at 2.0% Wednesday - which Lightfoot highlighted as the city s lowest rate since March 2020. We know the vaccine is safe and works, Lightfoot tweeted Wednesday. Getting everyone vaccinated is key to our safe reopening strategy. This is a big deal. Let’s keep the great momentum folks. Get vaxxed.
Lollapalooza will release single-day tickets to the music festival this summer in Chicago's Grant Park on Wednesday, just two hours after the daily concert.
Lightfoot announced the following changes on Thursday, which took effect immediately:
Restaurants and bars: Indoor capacity can increase to the lesser of 50% or 100 people.
Spectator events, theater, and performing arts: Large indoor venues, including the United Center, can now operate at 25% capacity.
Meetings, conferences, and conventions: Large indoor venues can now operate at the lesser of 25% or 250 people.
Places of worship: Large indoor venues can now operate at 25% capacity.
Festivals and general admission outdoor spectator events: Operate at 15 people per 1,000 sq. ft.
Flea and farmers markets: Operate at 25% capacity or 15 people per 1,000 sq. ft.
Chicago officials also announced last week that if the city s reopening metrics remain stable or continue to decrease for the next two weeks and the city reaches criteria set by the state, Chicago will join Illinois in moving to the state s new Bridge Phase.