New uncertainty looms just days before Chicago’s planned reopening

This was supposed to be the week Chicago took its biggest step back to normal.

Now it’s not even clear how to step back into the Loop.

Though the mayor’s office said Sunday that people with legitimate reason to enter the Loop would be free to go about their business, several restrictions on public transportation and expressway ramps seemed to limit access points.

Meanwhile, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot acknowledged she is concerned about what the protests, and the riots that followed, will mean for Chicago’s reopening following the coronavirus pandemic.

“I’m worried,” Lightfoot said Sunday. “I’m absolutely worried about a potential outbreak as a result of what we saw yesterday. Thousands of people, in cheek to jowl, in small spaces is exactly the opposite of what we have been preaching now for 10 weeks’ time.”

The mayor said the city was still on track to move into the next phase of the state’s coronavirus reopening plan Wednesday, “but if that changes we will certainly let people know as quickly as possible.”

Meanwhile, the city announced Sunday it was limiting access to the Loop only to those who have legitimate reason to be there. The boundaries of that district are roughly Division to the north, 26th to the south, Lake Shore Drive to the east, and Halsted and Canal to the west.

The Chicago Transit Authority announced Sunday night it would be suspending all buses and trains “at the request of public safety officials.” Though service was expected to resume Monday, specifics were not given. Metra also suspended all service Monday.

Both agencies were announcing updates on their Twitter feeds. So was the Illinois State Police, which announced ramp closures from expressways throughout the day Sunday.

A Lightfoot spokesperson did not respond to multiple messages Sunday evening seeking guidance about how people with legitimate business in the Loop should try to access the district.

Chicago’s planned reopening after 10 weeks of coronavirus restrictions was already expected to come with various limitations. They included face coverings for everyone, and Lightfoot had been working to make outdoor dining more lucrative by closing streets and allowing restaurants to set up tables in bus lanes and parking lots.

However, the mayor also warned last week that, “We cannot totally eliminate the risk of this virus. The best we can do — and the best you can do — is to continue to follow the public health guidance.”

“Having a resurgence in cases is more than a risk,” she said. “It is a very real possibility. We have seen that in nearby states. … And if that happens, we will not hesitate to take the necessary steps.”

On Sunday, Lightfoot said the uncertainty is “a terrible thing” after businesses had been shut down for so long.

“Now, instead of a moment of celebration, what they’re doing is experiencing a moment of despair,” Lightfoot said.