New Restrictions In Algonquin, LITH Start Saturday: What To Know

ALGONQUIN, LAKE IN THE HILLS, IL — Algonquin and Lake in the Hills will be under a slew of new coronavirus restrictions come Saturday.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced Wednesday that state officials will impose new restrictions Friday on Region 9, which includes Lake and McHenry counties, after positivity rates eclipsed 8 percent for three straight days.

"As of this morning, Region 9 — Lake and McHenry Counties — has now sustained an average positivity rate of 8 percent or higher for three days — meaning that they will join seven of our 11 other regions in operating under resurgence mitigations," Pritzker said Wednesday in a statement announcing the new restrictions. "So, beginning on Saturday at 12:01 a.m., public gatherings in Lake and McHenry counties will be reduced to 25 people, and indoor dining and indoor bar service will be temporarily closed."

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The state’s regional coronavirus-mitigation strategies include a ban on indoor service at restaurants and bars, as well as a cap on the size of public gatherings. The increased mitigations do not include any new restrictions on retail stores, salons and personal-care businesses, or group recreational activities.

Public health officials will lift additional regional restrictions once those positivity rates drop below 6.5 percent for three days in a row. State officials could implement “Tier 2” mitigation strategies if regional positivity rates remain above 8 percent for 14 days.

Tier 2 mitigations would include further limitations on in-person dining and social gatherings, a ban on indoor recreational activities, new restrictions at hospitals, and a return to curbside pickup from retail stores.

Pritzker said his administration will give priority consideration to businesses in regions facing new restrictions through the state’s $220 million Business Interruption Grants program.

Take a look below to see what’s expected to change Saturday, and what isn’t, under the state’s new coronavirus restrictions in Algonquin and Lake in the Hills:

RESTAURANTS/BARS

• Must close by 11, can open no earlier than 6 a.m.
• No indoor service
• Tables 6 feet apart
• Reservations required for each party/only one party per table
• No bar stools
• No dancing indoors
• Customers must not congregate while waiting to pick up orders

PUBLIC EVENTS/SOCIAL GATHERINGS

• Limited to the lesser of 25 guests or 25 percent of overall room capacity (indoor and outdoor)
• No party buses
• Casinos/gaming establishments must close by 11 p.m./limited to 25 percent capacity (must follow restrictions for bars/restaurants if applicable)