City Announces Indoor Vaccine Requirement

To help stop the spread of COVID-19, the City of Chicago has issued Public Health Order 2021-2, which requires certain establishments to verify that patrons are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The Public Health Order will remain in effect until the City of Chicago is through this Omicron-driven surge and the risk of overwhelming hospital capacity has passed. 

Under Chicago Public Health Order 2021-2 (Proof of Vaccination in Public Places) establishments will be required to develop and keep a written record describing the protocol for implementing and enforcing the vaccine mandate. Also, establishments will be required to prominently post signage at each publicly accessible entrance to the covered location and at least one location inside the covered location that is conspicuously visible, informing patrons of the vaccination requirement.

The City of Chicago mask mandate also remains in effect for all public indoor settings. The new order does not affect this mask requirement. The order will remain in effect until the City of Chicago is through this Omicron-driven surge and the risk of overwhelming hospital capacity has passed.


LOCATIONS REQUIRING PROOF OF VACCINATION

Effective Monday, January 3, 2022, the Chicago Vaccine Requirements will apply to the following public indoor places:  

  • Indoor Dining: Establishments where food or beverages are served, including, but not limited to, restaurants, bars, fast-food establishments, coffee shops, tasting rooms, cafeterias, food courts, dining areas of grocery stores, breweries, wineries, distilleries, banquet halls, and hotel ballrooms; and

  • Indoor Fitness: Gyms and fitness venues, including, but not limited to, gyms, recreation facilities, fitness centers, yoga, Pilates, cycling, barre, and dance studios, hotel gyms, boxing and kickboxing gyms, fitness boot camps, and other facilities used for conducting indoor group fitness classes; and

  • Indoor entertainment and recreation venues where food or beverages are served: Including, but not limited to, movie theaters, music and concert venues, live performance venues, adult entertainment venues, commercial event, and party venues, sports arenas, performing arts theaters, bowling alleys, arcades, card rooms, family entertainment centers, play areas, pool and billiard halls, and other recreational game centers.


VALID PROOF OF VACCINATION

Proof of vaccination means a CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card or an official immunization record from the jurisdiction, state, or country where the vaccine was administered or a digital or physical photo of such a card or record, reflecting the person’s name, vaccine brand, and date administered. This includes a:

  • Valid photo ID (age 16+) and

  • Vaccination Card

  • Photocopy of vaccination card

  • Digital record or app or

  • Printed record from vaccine provider


Webinars

The City of Chicago will be hosting informational webinars to provide an overview of the vaccine requirement on:

  • Wednesday, December 22 at 11:00 a.m. (register)

  • Wednesday, December 29 at 11:00 a.m. (register)

  • Tuesday, January 4 at 2:00 p.m. (register)

Register for a webinar by clicking on "register" next to the preferred date or by visiting Chicago.gov/BusinessEducation.

To review a webinar recording, visit YouTube.com/ChicagoBACP.


RESOURCES FOR BUSINESSES AND EMPLOYERS

If your business is covered by the Chicago Vaccine Requirement policy, you are required to check the vaccination status of all patrons age 5 and older. You must not permit entry to anyone 5 and older who has not been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 unless an exception applies. Businesses that do not comply with this policy will be subject to fines.

The City of Chicago mask mandate also remains in effect for all public indoor settings. The new order does not include capacity limits.

If any employees are not fully vaccinated, you must ensure that these employees both continue to mask when interacting with patrons and provide proof of a weekly negative COVID-19 test. 

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