About the New Proof of Vaccination Order
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.
"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."
On Friday, December 17, 2021, Skokie now reports an updated 82 confirmed COVID-19 cases, the highest number of daily cases in 2021 and the highest daily total since the start of the pandemic. As of Wednesday, December 22, the Village’s seven-day moving average of daily confirmed cases is 57, compared to 29.4 cases on December 13 and one case on July 18. Hospitalizations also have increased, with Illinois Region 10 (suburban Cook County) reporting only 10 percent of ICU beds currently available. The graph below shows the daily COVID-19 cases and seven-day moving average in Skokie from January 1 through December 23, 2021.
This chart shows the rate of COVID-19 transmission in Skokie from December 13 through 19, 2021. The rate of transmission is HIGH with an average 52 cases per day.
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.
See the new proof of vaccination order.