IL Phase 4: Here's What Reopens, What's Allowed

CHICAGO, IL — Fans will soon fill seats at Wrigley Field, and families will be able to check out their favorite animals at Brookfield Zoo, after Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced updated guidelines for Phase 4 of his reopening plan. State health officials also announced Monday that all regions of the state are still on track to enter Phase 4 on Friday.

The guidelines, which also allow for indoor dining, museums to reopen, and gyms and fitness centers to reboot operations, come with new restrictions meant to still encourage social distancing as the state works to prevent a resurgence of coronavirus cases.

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Among the highlights of the updated guidelines will include the return of spectator events and sports, which will be allowed with no more than 20 percent of seating capacity. As of Monday afternoon, the Chicago Cubs and White Sox have tickets listed for sale online for July games and beyond.

Another highlight, the Brookfield Zoo, which has been closed since late March, will reopen its outdoor areas for zoo members starting on July 1 and to the rest of the public on July 8. Reserved timed-ticketing will be in place and available for booking online "soon," Brookfield Zoo officials announced on Monday. All indoor spaces will remain closed, and face coverings will be required for anyone over 2 years old at the zoo.

Theaters and cinemas will also be allowed to reopen in Phase 4, and gathering sizes will increase from a maximum of 10 people allowed to gather together to gatherings of 50 people or fewer. This will allow for changes in how meetings, events and funerals are held.

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"Over the last four months, Illinoisans have pulled together with the common mission of keeping each other safe. By staying home and practicing social distancing, the rate of new COVID-19 cases continues to drop and each region throughout the state is prepared to move to Phase 4 of the Restore Illinois plan," said Governor J.B. Pritzker. "Science and data are the overarching guardrails for how Illinois will keep moving forward. By continuing to wear face coverings and following the guidance from health experts we can continue to safely reopen our economy and move forward together."

Here is a closer look at what can open, and the safety guidelines in place, in Phase 4:

• Meetings and events: Venues and meeting spaces can resume with the lesser of up to 50 people or 50 percent overall room capacity. Multiple groups are permitted given facilities have space to appropriately social distance and can limit interaction between groups. This includes activities such as conferences and weddings.
• Indoor and outdoor recreation: Bowling alleys, skating rinks and clubhouses can reopen. Under the new guidelines, indoor recreation can operate with either up to 50 customers or 50 percent of the facility's capacity. Outdoor recreation can include group sizes of up to 50 and permit multiple groups given facilities have space to appropriately social distance and can limit interaction between groups. Concession stands will be permitted with restrictions.
• Indoor dining: Indoor dining can reopen with groups of 10 or less, and tables must be spaced six feet apart in seated areas. In standing areas, no more than 25 percent capacity will be allowed.
• Museums: Can reopen with no more than 25 percent occupancy. Interactive exhibits and rides will remain closed, and guided tours should be limited to 50 people or fewer per group. Museums should have a plan to limit congregation via advance ticket sales and timed ticketing. Concessions will be permitted with restrictions.
• Zoos: Can reopen with no more than 25 percent occupancy, and, like museums, interactive exhibits, indoor exhibits, and rides will not operate. Guided tours should be limited to 50 people or fewer per group and, like museums, zoos should have a plan to limit congregation via advance ticket sales and timed ticketing. Concessions will also be permitted.
• Cinemas and theaters: Indoor seated theaters, cinemas, and performing arts centers can reopen with either fewer than 50 guests at a time or 50 percent of the overall theater or performance space capacity, which will apply to each screening room. Outdoor capacity will be limited to 20 percent of overall theater or performance space capacity. Concessions will be permitted with restrictions.
• Outdoor seated spectator events: Outdoor spectator sports can resume with no more than 20 percent of seating capacity and concessions will be permitted with restrictions.
• Film production: No more than 50 percent of the capacity for a sound stage or filming location will be allowed. Crowd scenes should be limited to 50 people or fewer.
• Youth and recreational sports: Revised guidelines allow competitive gameplay and tournaments; and youth and recreational sports venues can operate at 50 percent facility capacity and 20 percent seating capacity for spectators. In addition, group sizes of up to 50, with multiple groups permitted during practice and competitive games, will be allowed as long as venues have space to appropriately social distance and can limit interaction between groups. Concessions will also be permitted with restrictions.
• Health and fitness centers: Revised guidelines allow gyms to open at 50 percent capacity and allow group fitness classes of up to 50 people with new safety guidelines. Multiple groups will be permitted given facilities have space to appropriately social distance and can limit interaction between groups.
• Day camps: Water-based activities will be permitted in accordance with Illinois Department of Public guidelines. Day camps will be allowed with no more than 50 percent facility capacity and group size of no more than 15 participants, unless participants changing weekly.

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Additionally, manufacturing, retail stores, service counters, offices and personal care businesses, including salons, barbershops and nail salons, which were allowed to reopen during Phase 3, will continue to operate at a reduced capacity.

During Phase 4, face coverings will still need to be worn and safe social distancing should still be practiced, state health officials said. Industry-specific guidelines may vary, but all industries should continue to conduct regular cleanings, employee health screenings upon entry and at mid-shift, and to allow employees who can continue working from home to do so.

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The state's move to Phase 4 of the plan is expected to bring about 400,000 additional Illinois residents back to the workplace across all industries, according to state officials. While Phase 4 marks the return of 7 percent of the state's workforce, it accounts for about $30 billion in annual GDP returned to operations and represents continuous progress towards fully reopening the state's economy.