Governor Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Public Health reported yesterday that resurgence mitigations will be implemented in Region 7 (Will and Kanakee counties) and Region 8 (Kane and Dupage counties) at 12:01 AM on Friday. Both regions are seeing a 7-day rolling average test positivity rate of 8 percent or above for three consecutive days, which exceeds the threshold set for establishing mitigation measures under the state’s Restore Illinois Resurgence Plan.
Gaming hours will be 8AM – 11PM daily and indoor food/beverage service is suspended.
A map and information of each county’s status can be found on the IDPH website
After a month of COVID-19 resurgence mitigation efforts, Region 4 was able to return to Phase 4 guidelines starting yesterday, October 9 at 5 PM.
Region 4 which includes counties of Bond, Clinton, Madison, Monroe, Randolph, St. Clair and Washington, will be now be permitted to have indoor dining and drinking at restaurants and bars. Additionally, Scientific Games has been notified by the Illinois Gaming Board to return all VGT locations to their normally scheduled hours. The IGB is aware this process may take a few days and is expected to be completed this weekend.
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With the seasons changing, get ideas from the pros now on utilizing your outdoor space! Architects and designers from City Open Workshop join our friends at the Illinois Restaurant Association for a webinar providing restaurants and bars with expert design ideas to safely and optimally use their space for service.
The webinar will be held Thursday, October 15 at 10 AM.
The webinar is free to attend, but you must register ahead of time for the access information.
Governor Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Health announced COVID-19 resurgence mitigation efforts will be implemented in Region 1 beginning on Saturday, October 3. Region 1 includes the counties of Boone, Carroll., Dekalb, Jo Daviess, Lee, Ogle, Stephenson, Whiteside and Winnebago.
Mitigation measures taking effect Saturday in Region 1 include the following:
Our friends at the Illinois Restaurant Association are launching a social media awareness campaign to reinforce the extensive safety measures all restaurants have implemented and help build consumer confidence in dining indoors at Illinois’ 25,000+ eating and drinking establishments.
The IRA is asking establishments for their help to ensure restaurants can continue to welcome more customers back in a safe and smart way. Post the graphic below to your Facebook and Instagram pages.
Posting instructions:
• Utilize the below suggested caption and feel free to adjust to suit your tone/style.
• Tag 3 of your colleagues in the restaurant/hospitality industry in your post.
• Include the hashtag #ServingYouSafelyinIL in your post.
Caption text:
The safety and welfare of guests and team members are restaurants’ top priorities. Restaurants are, and have always been, one of the most highly-regulated segments when it comes to health and safety. We are strictly following all necessary public health guidelines – face coverings, social distancing, PPE, sanitizing, and more – in order to maintain safe and welcoming environments for our guests. We’re all in this together – and we know that masks and covered faces keep open places!
#ServingYouSafelyinIL
@illinoisrestaurants
Though IGS partner locations are continuing to adhere to COVID-19 related safety and compliance guidelines, several regions are at a heightened risk at seeing potential and/or additional mitigation efforts enforced.
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) reported 30 counties in Illinois are considered to be at a warning level for COVID-19. A county enters a warning level when two or more COVID-19 risk indicators that measure the amount of COVID-19 increase.
While masks have already been required when gaming and visiting establishments, the state of Illinois announced revised guidelines for restaurants and bar establishments statewide to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
These latest guidelines will require patrons to wear a mask during any interaction with wait staff, food service workers and other employees at bars and restaurants. Face coverings must be worn over the nose and mouth when patrons are approached and served by staff, including but not limited to when employees take patrons orders, deliver food and beverages, and service tables.
This guidance will also apply to other facilities with food services areas that are currently subject to the Restore Illinois guidance, such as indoor recreational facilities, museums and entertainment venues.
New guidelines go into effect TODAY, Wednesday, August 26 and will require face coverings to be worn both in indoor and outdoor dining settings in all eleven regions in the state.
Thank you for the work you are all doing to “Play it safe!” Despite our best efforts, as you will see in the following press release from the Governor’s office, Illinois Region 7, which includes the counties of Kankakee and Will, will begin COVID resurgence mitigation today, Wednesday, August 26. Region 7 will operate under the following mitigation requirements:
While we know IGS partner locations are continuing to adhere to COVID-19 related safety and compliance guidelines, there is still the risk of increased spread of the virus. Under Governor J.B. Pritzker’s Restore Illinois plan aimed at guarding the state’s progress, once a region reaches certain health metrics, they are subject to implementing additional restrictions to prevent renewed spread of COVID-19.
All regions are currently in Phase 4, however Region 4, which includes Metro East counties of Bond, Clinton, Madison, Monroe, Randolph, St. Clair and Washington, has exceeded IDPH criteria triggering additional mitigation efforts. As detailed in the July 15 Restore Illinois resurgence plan, new mitigations will be applied if a region’s positivity rate averages greater than or equal to 8% for three consecutive days, as it has in Region 4 from August 14 to 16, 2020.
Effective August 18, Region 4 will operate under these new mitigations requirements: (more…)
IGS continues to advocate and lobby both at the state and national level for changes to help our clients manage through the COVID-19 pandemic. Under current proposals in Washington, restaurant operators who had Payroll Protection Program (PPP) loans forgiven may lose some key tax deductions, creating a surprise tax liability. Additionally, the majority of restaurants might not be eligible for a new round of PPP funding. These two critical issues are why we ask you to join us taking action now.
As Congress tries to move towards agreement on a final COVID relief package, plans have emerged for a new round of PPP funding that would require businesses to demonstrate a 50% loss of revenue. According to recently released data, 55% of restaurants that are losing money would not be eligible for this new funding! Congress must fix the legislation to ensure that more restaurants—the hardest hit businesses by the COVID-19 pandemic—are eligible.
When Congress created PPP, its intent was for business expenses paid by PPP to be tax deductible. However, guidance from the IRS says that expenses paid for with a forgiven loan are now taxable.
Establishments across the country may soon face surprise tax liability when they can least afford it. Congress must make business expenses paid for by PPP tax deductible.
