The Village of Oak Park | 123 Madison St.  Oak Park, IL 60302 | village@oak-park.us

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Oak Park follows state guidelines to ease business restrictions

UPDATE: Oak Park moves to Phase 4

June 26, 2020 - Oak Park continued to join communities across the state in further easing restrictions on businesses and recreation as Phase 4 of Gov. J.B. Pritzker's five-phase Restore Illinois plan went into effect today.

Gatherings of up to 50 people are now allowed and schools, child care programs and restaurants can resume a range of services and activities as long as they follow public health guidelines. Movie theaters, health clubs and retail stores also can open with capacity limits.

Local public health officials continue to urge citizens to exercise caution and good judgement as they broaden their range of activities.

Click here for more information about the Phase 4 guidelines

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May 29, 2020 – Oak Park has joined communities across the state in easing restrictions on businesses and recreation as Phase 3 of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s five-phase Restore Illinois plan goes into effect today.

Restaurants can offer outdoor dining; hair salons, barber shops, tattoo parlors and nonessential retail stores can reopen; and gyms can offer outdoor and one-on-one instruction – all within specific guidelines that require proper social distancing, place limits on the numbers of customers at one time and require both customers and staff to cover their mouth and nose.

Tennis courts can reopen as well and small-group athletic activities of up to 10 people will be permitted as long as participants either stay at least six feet apart or wear masks.

 “The Village is following the lead of the Illinois Department of Public Health as we move into a new stage of the pandemic,” said Oak Park Public Health Director Mike Charley. “But we continue to urge citizens to exercise caution and good judgement as they venture further from their homes.”

COVID-19 remains a public health threat, Charley said, adding “The goal of the Village and the state is to take steps that mitigate risks as best we can. Success of our efforts to continue to stem the spread of the virus will depend on how willing individuals are to follow safety guidelines that can help reduce the chances of infection.”

Since outdoor dining and drinking will be limited to parties of six or fewer, with tables spaced at least six feet apart from one another and from customer service areas, businesses have been urged to implement a reservation or call-ahead system.

Restaurant customers will be required to wear a mask that covers their nose and mouth except when eating and drinking at a table. Wait staff will be required to wear masks when interacting with customers.

Retail stores are required to limit the number of customers in a store at one time to half the usual capacity, or five customers per 1,000 square feet of retail space. The capacity limitation is similar to the rule in place for grocery stores and other essential retailers since May 1. Specific rules also govern changing rooms.

Phase 3 guidelines span 10 different industry categories, including restaurants and bars, retail stores, personal care services, health and fitness centers, youth sports, day camps, manufacturing and offices. Each category addresses activity-specific guidelines as well as a common set of guidelines that all must adopt.

Village services will continue to be available from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays by appointment and by calling 708.358.5700, as employees work in shifts on site and remotely. Many routine Village services also are available at www.oak-park.us/onlineservices.

The Police lobby in the lower level of Village Hall, 123 Madison St., is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Information on Oak Park’s response to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic is posted at www.oak-park.us/covid19.