Mayor Lori Lightfoot | Facebook
Mayor Lori Lightfoot | Facebook
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot has eased restrictions, allowing restaurants to operate at 50 percent capacity following the increase in vaccinations.
The city’s public health officials had earlier announced that Illinois residents 65 or older can start making appointments Thursday for the United Center vaccination site.
Chicago public health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady said starting Tuesday there will be more than 110,000 slots for inoculation for those 65 and older at the United Center.
There will be 20,000 free rides provided in partnership with Uber to cater for residents who need assistance getting to the appointment and back after they sign up.
Restaurant owners are still not happy with the 50 percent increase, Illinois Restaurant Association President Sam Toia says he wants Lightfoot to review the capacity for each restaurant room to at least 150.
“You cannot do catering parties with more than 50 people. We’re moving into the springtime here. You’ve got a lot of communions, graduations, Bar Mitzvahs, weddings,” Toia said according to U.S. News. “We would really like to see it get bumped up to 150 per room."
About 1.2 million Illinoisans have been infected by the virus over the past year, and more than 20,000 have died according to the Illinois Department of Public Health.
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