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Effective January 10, 2022 Village of Skokie Requires New Proof of Vaccination Order for Some Businesses
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.
See the new proof of vaccination order.
Download the proof of vaccination order sign for your business HERE
"A total of nearly 78 percent of Skokie residents are fully vaccinated to prevent severe illness with COVID-19," said Health and Human Services Director Michael Charley. "This new order is being instituted to protect their health of patrons and the employees of Skokie businesses."
Here are some specifics from the new proof of vaccination order:
Overview of new mitigations:
- To enter a qualifying establishment, businesses must require any individual age 5 and older to show proof that they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19
- Businesses must require patrons ages 16 and older to show identification (e.g. driver’s license, passport, work ID) with information that corresponds to proof of vaccination
- Businesses must post signage advertising patrons of this vaccine requirement at all entrances to the premises, as well as predominantly posted inside the establishment
- Employees must be vaccinated OR must show weekly proof of a negative COVID-19 test
- Businesses must develop a written protocol providing details for how they will enforce this Order
An individual is considered fully-vaccinated:
- Two weeks after their second dose in a 2-dose series with an approved COVID-19 vaccine, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines
- Two weeks after a single-dose series with an approved COVID-19 vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine
Proof of vaccination means:
- A CDC COVID-19 vaccination record card; or,
- An official immunization record from the jurisdiction, state or county where the vaccine was administered; or,
- An application that provides a digital record of vaccinations; or
- A digital or physical photo of such a card or record that includes the individual’s name, vaccine brand administered and the date the vaccine was administered.
Mask Mandate Now In Effect - August 24, 2021
- 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 this 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, healthcare settings, congregate facilities, on public transportation and in transportation hubs.
- Mask refers to a complete and tight knit fabric or cloth, or medical mask that is appropriately sized for the individual's face to snuggly cover the nasal openings and mouth without the necessity of being held in place by the individual's hands.
- All businesses open to public must post signage directing patrons and staff that masks are required to be worn on the premises. Such signage must be posted at all entrances to the premises, as well as prominently posted in an area visible to patrons and staff within the establishment.
- Masks may be removed at restaurants, bars and other eating/drinking establishments by patrons when they are actively eating/drinking while stationary. Masks can also be removed for certain activities that require their removal, such as beard shaves or facials.
- Masks shall be required to be worn in all Village of Skokie buildings and premises.
Dempster Street Construction Projects Begin
The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) began roadway improvements (e.g., street reconstruction including widening of roads at turning radii, installation of right turn lanes and ADA ramps, and extending length of left-turning lanes) at the Niles Center Road, Skokie Boulevard and Dempster Street intersection. Street resurfacing activities along Dempster Street from Kilpatrick Avenue to McCormick Avenue, are also underway.
Niles Center Rd, Skokie Blvd and Dempster St Intersection Improvements
- The improvements will cover the area east of Bronx Avenue to Kilpatrick Avenue on Dempster Street; from Carol Street to north of Greenwood Street on Niles Center Road and from Crain Street to north of Greenwood Street on Skokie Blvd.
- Work will continue through October 2022, but all lanes will be temporarily reopened between 12/1/21 and 3/31/22.
- It will be the responsibility of IDOT to maintain access to adjacent properties at all times. When work is occurring adjacent to a driveway, access at that location will likely be temporarily restricted, but generally speaking all adjacent property is to remain accessible, night and day, during the project.
- The most restrictive staging of traffic will be the initial staging. All legs of the intersections will be reduced to one through lane while some legs will retain a turn lane as well. Generally speaking, more lanes will become available for use as the project progresses through the five different stages for traffic.
- The contractor has not yet provided a construction schedule, however, the Village will make the schedule available on the Village's website (www.skokie.org) once it has been confirmed. At this time, the duration and timing of each stage is unknown to the Village.
- Primary contact regarding business and residential concerns for the IDOT work
- Glen Pennington, IDOT Resident Engineer, (847) 894-8491.
- Village contact if IDOT is nonresponsive - Russ Rietveld, (847) 933-8231.
Dempster Street Resurfacing - Kilpatrick Avenue to McCormick Avenue
- Work began June 14th and should take approximately four months.
- Most activities will be conducted utilizing rolling lane Closures where necessary.
- Initial work will be concrete sidewalk and curb removal and replacement.
- Street patching and underground utility work will be completed next.
- The existing surface is currently scheduled to be removed around the beginning of August 2021.
- The new surface placement should begin in September 2021.
- Primary contact regarding business and residential concerns for the IDOT work
- Larry Pray, IDOT Resident Engineer, (847) 846-5853.
- Village contact if IDOT is nonresponsive - Russ Rietveld,(847) 933-8231.
CLICK HERE for a Map of the Niles Center / Dempster / Skokie Intersection Improvements.
Thank you for your cooperation and patience during this very important State of Illinois roadway reconstruction and improvement work.
Downtown Skokie Homewood Suites by Hilton Hotel and Conference Center - Coming Soon
On December 7, 2020 the Skokie Village Board of Trustees approved a Development Agreement between the Village and E&M Skokie, LLC to construct a 142-room Homewood Suites by Hilton. The hotel is anticipated to be under construction by the summer of 2021 and located at the northeast corner of Niles Avenue and Oakton Street. The hotel will anchor and be a needed amenity for not only the region and Skokie, but also the Illinois Science + Technology Park. The Village will purchase and retain the eastern portion of the property which includes Annie’s Pancake house which will continue to operate at its current locale at 4900 Oakton Street.
In addition to the hotel rooms, the new Homewood Suites by Hilton Downtown Skokie Hotel will feature a rooftop bar and pub open to the public, 13,000 square feet of ground floor retail, full amenities for hotel guests, as well as 10,000 square feet of banquet and event space. Coinciding with the hotel, public improvements will take place along Oakton Terrace and over 115 additional public parking spaces in addition to those needed by the hotel will be provided in a new parking garage to the north of the hotel itself along Niles Avenue.
For more information, please CLICK HERE
Support Skokie's Small Businesses!
We know you are all doing the best you can to support local businesses during these uncertain times. We hope that you are also continuing to refer to the Village of Skokie’s promotional websites CLICK HERE along with our partners at the Skokie Chamber of Commerce, Skokie Public Library, and Chicago’s North Shore Convention and Visitors Bureau. As a reminder, please encourage friends, colleagues and family members to Subscribe to SkokieNews for important updates throughout the year.
Welcome to Skokie Video released.
Click here for the new “Welcome to Skokie” video which highlighted the Village at the recently held SelectChicago Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Virtual Conference.
August 27, 2020 - Skokie Business Update
Click HERE or on graphic below to read the latest Business Update.
August 4, 2020 - Village of Skokie Economic Recovery Plan Unveiled
In response to COVID-19, Skokie Mayor George Van Dusen was one of the first suburban Chicago mayors to establish the Skokie Economic Recovery Task Force. Between May 12 through July 29, 2020, the Task Force met regularly via Zoom to help guide and assist Village staff, leadership, and the community to develop a thoughtful and actionable Economic Recovery Plan. Recommendations identified focus on priorities deemed essential by Task Force Members, community members, elected officials, and from discussions and feedback received from over 250 Skokie-based businesses and service providers across all segments of the economy. To view the report CLICK HERE or on the cover page below.
July 7, 2020 Business Update
Click HERE or on graphic below to read the latest Business Update.