Coronavirus Surge: Indoor Dining Shuts Down In Chicago Friday

CHICAGO — The day after saying she would protest Gov. J.B. Pritzker's decision to order shutdown indoor dining in the city, Mayor Lori Lightfoot backed down.

The mayor acquiesced after an hour-long meeting with Pritzker Wednesday. Lightfoot told reporters she won't try to block the coronavirus mitigation restrictions.

"We had a very frank and productive conversation with the governor and his team and my team as well. We explored a lot of issues, and we came out of that discussion really committed to making sure that we work hard together," Lightfoot said. "Obviously we’ve got to work and make sure that we communicate effectively to the businesses across Chicago that are going to be affected.”

Before Pritzker's order, city public health officials had set a business curfew requiring non-essential businesses to close daily between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.

Starting Friday, when the new state coronavirus mitigation restrictions into effect, all non-essential businesses in Chicago will be allowed to remain open until 11 p.m. daily.

"This will allow restaurants and bars that can no longer offer indoor service an extra hour of outdoor operations each evening," according to a statement from City Hall. "Additionally, the City will be modifying its liquor curfew to allow on-site or to-go alcohol sales at bars and restaurants until 11:00 pm. The sale of alcohol from liquor stores, grocery stores and other establishments with a Package Goods license must still end at 9:00 pm."

Under the governor's executive order, indoor dining and service at bars and restaurants is prohibited, and indoor and outdoor meetings or social events are limited to either 25 guests or 25 percent capacity, which ever is fewer.