City of Chicago Implements Vaccine Requirements for Restaurants, Bars, Gyms

by Kristin Harlow

CHICAGO — Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot has mandated that any individual 5 years of age or older will be required to show proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 in order to dine indoors, visit gyms or go to entertainment venues where food or drink are being served. The new requirement goes into effect starting Monday, Jan. 3.

The initiative is in response to “an alarming rise in COVID cases both locally and nationally, driven in part by the Omicron variant,” according to the city. The requirement is similar to what is already in place in large cities such as New York City and Los Angeles. Patrons age 16 and older will also need to provide identification that matches their vaccination record. The city’s mask mandate also remains in effect for all public indoor settings.

Chicago residents are now averaging more than 1,700 new COVID cases every day, a 79 percent increase from one week ago.

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