With the State of Illinois lifting numerous COVID-19 restrictions, Chicago house/techno hotspot Smartbar is reopening its doors for the first time since March 2020.
On June 11th Chicago entered Phase 5, the most lenient tier of its reopening plan. Four days later, Smartbar announced a series of six grand re-opening shows. Included in the lineup are Chicago-based artists Honey Dijon and The Blessed Madonna. Within 24 hours, all six shows sold out.
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The decision to enter Phase 5 comes as Chicago’s COVID-19 positivity rate drops below 1%, hitting 0.8% as of June 14th. The announcement includes the removal of mask and capacity requirements.
The State of Illinois’ Coronavirus Response Team announced that “fully vaccinated people can resume numerous activities without wearing a mask or staying six feet apart, except where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance.”
In other words: businesses are free to enforce mask mandates however they choose. In Smartbar’s case, all attendees must furnish proof of COVID-19 vaccination upon entry.
“Due to the continued statewide emergency health order, we are requiring all patrons to show proof of vaccination in order to attend this event,” reads a Smartbar statement. “This requirement is subject to change.”
