Illinois officials ease bar, restaurant COVID-19 restrictions in Jo Daviess County

Illinois officials say enough progress has been made against COVID-19 to again allow limited indoor service in bars and restaurants in the region that includes Jo Daviess County.

The region is now under Tier 1 mitigations, according to the Jo Daviess County Health Department.

Under Tier 1 mitigation, all bars and restaurants must close by 11 p.m. and cannot open until 6 a.m., with indoor service limited to the lesser of 25 patrons or 25% capacity per room.

Establishments offering indoor service must serve food, and indoor service reservations are limited to two-hour maximum duration and a maximum of four individuals per party.

The mitigation rules also call for all bar and restaurant patrons being seated at tables that are kept 6 feet apart.

The Illinois Department of Public Health website states that a region that experiences a sustained resurgence of COVID-19 with Tier 1 mitigations in place can return to stricter measures.