Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker on May 24 released new industry-specific guidelines to allow for a safe re-opening of businesses as the state progresses into the Phase 3 of his five-phase Restore Illinois plan.
All four regions of the state are expected to advance to Phase 3 of the plan when the Governor’s “Stay At Home” Executive Order expires after May 29. Phase 3 is expected to see many businesses reopen across the state, and hundreds of thousands of workers back to work.
The following industries are included in Phase 3: retail, offices, manufacturing, barbershops and salons, summer programs, various outdoor recreation activities, bars and restaurants for outdoor dining, and more. During Phase 3, group gatherings of 10 or fewer will now be permitted. A full list of industries as well as corresponding safety guidelines is now available.
While Phase 3 safety guidelines offer new precautions for businesses and residents to take, the state encourages all residents to maintain compliance with ongoing public health guidance – using face coverings, washing hands regularly, and practicing social distancing. Our continued compliance with the latest public health guidelines is essential to our ability to safely reopen our state and to restore Illinois.
Learn more about Phase 3 and the full list of industry-specific guidelines.
In an effort to help businesses prepare to reopen and comply with these new guidelines, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (IDCEO) has developed a downloadable “Phase 3 Business Toolkit.” The toolkit includes signage, training checklists and other resources to help business owners and workers implement safety procedures and precautions aligned with public health standards.
For Industry definitions and guidelines, please see below:
Restaurants and Bars (outdoor dining and drinking)
Full-service restaurants, limited-service restaurants, snacks bars, taverns, and other food and beverage businesses
Retail
Retailers and merchandisers such as: grocery stores; hardware stores; clothing stores; pharmacies; department stores; shopping malls
Outdoor Recreation
Customer facing services such as driving ranges, outdoor shooting ranges, paintball courses, outdoor adventure parks
- Guidelines
- Toolkit(coming soon)
Manufacturing
Manufacturing facilities such as plants, factories and mills
Health and Fitness Centers
Gyms, fitness centers, yoga, dance, cycling, pilates, barre studios, and other customer-facing fitness centers
Offices
Non-customer-facing offices such as: legal; accounting services; architectural/engineering design; and other professional services
Personal Care Services
Hair salons, barber shops, nail salons, spas, massage parlors, waxing centers, tattoo parlors
Service Counters
Stores providing assorted services for dropped off goods, such as: dry cleaners; electronics repair shops; shoe repair shops; car washes
Day Camps
Recreational youth programs such as sports camps, recreational camps, educational camps
- Guidelines
- Toolkit (coming soon)
Youth Sports
Youth sports games or matches, group sports lessons, team or group sports practices (no competitive sports permitted in Phase 3)
Additionally, the State of Illinois is providing new guidelines for indoor/outdoor tennis, as well as revised guidelines for boating and fishing and for golf.
IDCEO also encourages businesses to go above and beyond this guidance in prioritizing the safety and health of their workers and customers.
If you have read the industry safety guidelines above and have other specific questions or comments about how Phase 3 affects your business or employees, please feel free to get in touch with DCEO. For direct support, contact the IDCEO Business Hotline Monday through Friday at 1-800-252-2923 or email at: ceo.support@illinois.gov.