UPDATE 2/28/22

Effective February 28, 2022, the Village of Skokie has lifted the COVID-19 Public Health Indoor Mask Requirement and Public Health Proof of Vaccination Orders. See the order that rescinded these mandates.

The Village of Skokie acted in alignment with the State of Illinois, City of Chicago and the Cook County Department of Public Health as improvements are continuing throughout the region in key COVID-19 metrics. As of February 20, 2022, the COVID-19 positivity rate in Skokie was 1.03% and the seven-day rolling average for confirmed cases was 13.43 cases per day. For the first time since early November, 2021, Skokie Community Transmission level for COVID-19 is at the Substantial level, with less than 100 new cases over the last 7 days per 100,000 population. The Cook County region’s ICU and non-ICU hospital admissions numbers, and the positivity rate are both in the ‘lower transmission’ risk category. Confirmed cases also continue to decrease and are approaching the lower transmission category.  

As of February 28, 2022:  

  • Masks are no longer required in all indoor public places for the general public.   
    • Masks continue to be required in those settings as required by federal or state order or Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines (healthcare settings, public transportation and transportation hubs and congregate care settings). See more information from the CDC.
  • In the settings covered by the Proof of Vaccination Order (those where food or drink are served for on-premises consumption and health and fitness centers): 
    • Proof of vaccination for patrons in businesses are no longer be required.  
    • Proof of vaccination or weekly testing for employees are no longer be required.  

Although masks are not required in most settings, many residents will choose to continue to wear a mask – especially those who are immunocompromised and children under the age of five who are not eligible to be vaccinated. The Village of Skokie asks for continued understanding and kindness to those who choose to wear a mask, or for those who chose not to wear a mask as will be permitted in most settings. 

The Skokie Health and Human Services Department strongly recommends wearing a face mask in schools, and further recommends masking in any crowded indoor public setting where physical distancing cannot be maintained such as at large indoor events. Skokie Health and Human Services staff will continue to monitor COVID-19 metrics in Skokie and in the Cook County region. Additional mitigation measures might be recommended in the future if the healthcare system is overwhelmed or if transmission rate increases warrant such action.   

UPDATE 2/14/22

Update on Indoor Mask and Proof-of-Vaccine Mandates

mask graphic (JPG)

 

Skokie Health and Human Services Indoor Mask and Vaccine Mandates to be Lifted as Soon as February 28

In concert with the State of Illinois, Cook County Department of Public Health and the Chicago Department of Public Health, the Skokie Health and Human Services Department (HHS) anticipates that if key metrics continue to improve through February, the Skokie HHS proof-of- vaccination and indoor masking orders for Skokie can be lifted effective February 28 consistent with the Governor’s time frame in lifting the current State of Illinois public indoor mask order. The current HHS indoor mask order was to be in effect through March 7, 2022.

The metrics Skokie HHS is monitoring include leading to rescinding the orders as soon as February 28, 2022, include:

  • Sustained improvement in hospital and ICU bed availability with decreased admissions for COVID 
  • Decreased case rates to a moderate level per Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) criteria (10-49.99 cases/100,000 population) for a sustained period
  • Decreased case positivity rate to a moderate level per CDC criteria (5-7.99%) for a sustained period

Skokie HHS will continue daily monitoring of all measures that will be considered in the department’s decision-making process. Not all metrics need to be at target to modify the current mitigations, but substantial progress must be observed. Until that time, we continue to call for universal masking in indoor public places as part of a layered strategy required to control the spread of the virus.

After February 28, 2022, even with a change in local requirements, mask requirements will continue where federally mandated, such as on public transit and in high-risk settings including healthcare facilities and congregate care. To account for the risk of community spread among more vulnerable populations, and in accordance with CDC guidance, Illinois will continue to require masks in the following settings:

The State of Illinois has also reported that given that schools need more time for community infection rates to drop, for young children to become vaccine eligible, and for more parents to have their kids vaccinated, masks will continue to be required in P-12 school settings unless pending litigation impacts a school.

Information About the Current Skokie HHS Indoor Mask Requirement and Proof-of-Vaccination Orders

See the Village of Skokie Health and Human Services Department Indoor Mask Requirement Order

See information about the Skokie Health and Human Services Proof-of-Vaccination Order

The Skokie Health and Human Services Department recently extended the Village’s indoor mask requirement through March 7, 2022. This was done in an effort to further protect the community’s health during the COVID-19 pandemic and in light of the current surge in cases and hospitalizations.

The order requires that:

  • Any individual aged two and older and able to medically tolerate a mask shall be required to wear a mask when indoors in a public place, regardless of vaccination status.
  • For the purposes of the Order, indoor public spaces include any common or shared space in: (1) a residential multi-unit building or (2) any non- residential building, including but not limited to retail stores, restaurants, bars/taverns, health and fitness clubs, museums, hotels, personal services, performance venues, movie theaters, commercial buildings, event venues, health care settings, congregate facilities, on public transportation and in transportation hubs.

The order is consistent with orders and mandates of the County of Cook and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker’s Executive Order 2021-22, as amended by Executive order 2021-23 and Executive Order 2021-27, most recently re-issued by Executive Order 2022-01.  

UPDATE 1/21/22

USPS is offering 4-Count At-Home COVID-19 Tests for Free.

Note, Residential households in the U.S. can order one set of 4 free at-home tests from USPS.com.

Here’s what you need to know about your order:
Limit of one order per residential address
One order includes 4 individual rapid antigen COVID-19 tests
Orders will ship free starting in late January

Fill in this form with your contact and shipping information to order your tests.

https://special.usps.com/testkits

UPDATE 12/23/21

In response to the current COVID-19 surge of cases and hospitalizations in the Village of Skokie and surrounding areas, the Skokie Health and Human Services Department has issued a new order requiring proof of vaccination for customers of indoor settings where food or drink are served for on-premises consumption, like restaurants, bars, and entertainment venues as well as in fitness facilities.
 
The order will go into effect January 10, 2022, and is being instituted to protect the community’s health and avoid the wide-spread business shutdowns that occurred in the early days of the pandemic.
 
 
 

Download the Skokie Business Compliance Template (pdf)

Download the Skokie Business Compliance Template (Word)

See information about community COVID-19 vaccination clinics

A Message from the Chamber:
The Proof of Vaccination Order was issued and will be enforced by the Village of Skokie Health Department and Cook County Department of Public Health.

The Skokie Chamber of Commerce and Industry is a not-for-profit association dedicated to supporting economic growth of our local businesses. While we advocate for our local businesses’ best interests in the political sphere, we are a separate organization from The Village of Skokie and the local Health Departments and do not write, pass, or enforce local laws and mandates.

The Chamber cares deeply about the health and safety of the public as well as supporting local businesses in navigating the challenges of operating their business during the pandemic.

If you need anything from the Chamber – questions, concerns, support – we are here and happy to help!

Give us a call or contact us via email. Each of the Chamber staff is here to be a listening ear and brainstorm best ways that we can help your business grow and thrive in these challenging times.

Sincerely,

Howard S. Meyer
President & CEO
847-673-0240
connect@skokiechamber.org

UPDATE 4/15/21

Sign up to be an Advocate Aurora Health Neighbor to Neighbor Vaccine Champion. There will be two training sessions on April 20th, 3:00 – 4:00pm or 6:00 – 7:00pm. Click here to register.

 

UPDATES 1/12/21

U.S. Small Business Administration:

PPP Opened Today for First Draw PPP Loan Applications

 

Updated PPP Loan Applications and Process Details:

Guidance on Accessing Capital for Minority, Underserved, Veteran and Women-Owned Business Concerns

Overview: First Draw PPP Loan Application: First Draw PPP Loan

Overview: Second Draw PPP Loan Application: Second Draw PPP Loan

 

Illinois Department of Economic Opportunity:

See the Full List of Illinois BIG Grant Recipients

 

Internal Revenue Service:

Guidance on Deductions for Eligible PPP Expenses

EEOC Issues Guidance Regarding COVID-19 Vaccines in the Workplace

Village of Skokie: 2020 Year in Review

 

Skokie Health & Human Services Department

Free COVID-19 Vaccination Plan for Skokie Residents

State of Illinois Vaccination Planning Website

State of Illinois Business Toolkits – Signage, Posters & Other Resources

 

UPDATES 11/11/20

Village of Skokie: NEW COVID-19 Web Page

State of Illinois COVID-19 Response Page

Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity Restore Illinois

Cook County COVID-19 Recovery Small Business Assistance

 

UPDATES 9/8/20

Phase 4 Updated Restaurant & Bar Establishment Safety Guidelines

Village of Skokie – CodeRED Emergency Notification System Information

SBA Corona Virus Recovery Information Center

 

NEW LINKS ABOUT EMPLOYEE/COVID REGULATIONS

City of Chicago’s Anti-Retaliation Ordinance prohibiting employers from retaliating against workers for obeying certain COVID-19 health orders. The link also includes FAQ’s and more.

Information on paid leave under the US Department of Labor Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA)

 

NEW BUSINESS ASSISTANCE LINKS

Restore Illinois Phase 4 Guidelines

Cook County Technical Assistance Network

Updated List of Open Businesses in Skokie *New 7/8

 

MORE GRANTS AND LOANS AVAILABLE

SBA Disaster Assistance Loan

SBA Paycheck Protection Program

SBA: Find Eligible Paycheck Protection Program Lenders  *New 7/8

 

 

MORE ECONOMIC RECOVERY LINKS

From The US Chamber of Commerce: Guide to PPP Loan Forgiveness – PDF

Association of Business Recovery Professionals: Small Business Grants For Women

Illinois.gov: Get Hired Illinois
Connecting Employers Looking for Workers to Workers Looking for Work

 

 

INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE:

Coronavirus Tax Relief on IRS.gov

IRS – Economic Impact Payments:What You Need to Know

IRS – FAQ’s Employee Retention Credit Under the Cares Act

IRS – Get My Payment

IRS – Partnership and Promotional Materials

 

FROM THE OFFICE OF US SENATOR DICK DURBIN:

Senator Dick Durbin – Home Page

COVID-19 Update – Senator Dick Durbin

Unemployment Insurance Fact Sheet – PDF

Emergency Paid Sick Leave – PDF

Emergency Paid Family Leave – PDF

 

VILLAGE OF SKOKIE:

Village of Skokie

Village of Skokie – Resources for Businesses Affected by COVID-19

Village of Skokie – COVID-19

Village of Skokie – List of Open Restaurants

Skokie Health Department – Clinic Referrals PDF

SkokieNews – E-Newsletter Sign Up Page

Skokie Public Library

Skokie Public Library Blog: Financial Help During the Pandemic

Skokie Park District

 

NILES TOWNSHIP:

Niles Township Government

 

COOK COUNTY:

Cook County Bureau of Economic Devleopment – Newsletter Sign Up

Cook County Community Recovery Initiative

 

FEDERAL/NATIONAL AGENCIES:

Center For Disease Control and Prevention

United States Treasury – How to Calculate Loan Amounts by Business Type – PDF

Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago

US Chamber of Commerce

National Restaurant Association – Downloadable Reopening Guide

Federal Housing Finance Agency – Assistance Options for Families Affected by COVID-19 – FAQ’s PDF

US Department of Education – Department of Federal Student Aid: Coronavirus and Forbearance Info for Students, Borrowers, and Parents

 

ILLINOIS AGENCIES:

Illinois Small Business Advocacy Council

Illinois – Office of the Governor

Illinois – Department of Public Health

Illinois – Department of Public Health – Restore Illnois

Illinois – Department of Employment Security

Illinois – Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity

Illinois Chamber of Commerce

Illinois Restaurant Association

Illinois Department of Commerce – Emergency Small Business Grants and Loans Assistance

Illinois Liquor Control Commission – Guidance regarding COVID-19 Ralted Development within the Liquor Industry

Illinois Retail Merchants Association

Illinois Manufacturers Association

 

 

CHICAGO AGENCIES:

Women’s Business Development Center

Chicago Minority Business Development Agency Business Center

The United States Small Business Administration – Chicago Office

City of Chicago-Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection

Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce

 

OTHER LINKS:

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) – 6 Tips to Limit Cornovirus Anxiety

From Drugwatch.com: A Consumer’s Guide to the Coronavirus

American Business Immigration Coalition

National Partnership for New Americans