Updated June 25, 2020
The Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) has no higher priority than the safety and security of the traveling public and our airport community, and we are taking every precaution to keep travelers and employees safe. We are in close contact with our federal and public health partners at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH), and strictly adhere to their recommendations. We are determined to maintaining normal airport operations, while at the same time supporting CDPH's mandate to reduce the impact of COVID-19 in Chicago.
Since January, the CDA has been working closely and collaboratively with our federal and public health partners at the CDC and CDPH, as well as Customs and Border Protection (CBP), to implement the federally mandated screening of travelers who may have been exposed to COVID-19. We are also committed to working with these agencies to ensure we are following best practices to keep the traveling public and airport employees safe. Specific actions we have taken in our airports include:
Airport concessions are exempt from the State of Illinois's emergency order of closing restaurants and bars. A variety of restaurants, bars, and other concessionaires and shops are open for business at O'Hare and Midway to serve travelers.
Information on the resources available and the preparedness measures taken by the City of Chicago in response to COVID-19.
All decisions regarding the screening of international passengers arriving at U.S. airports are made and carried out by federal agencies, particularly the CDC and CBP. Since January, the CDA has provided all necessary support for our federal partners to carry out the screening protocols of the moment. The City of Chicago and its airport employees do not (and are not authorized to) conduct screenings of arriving international passengers.
This a fluid and frequently changing situation. For the most up-to date information on screening procedures for international arriving passengers, please visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/after-travel-precautions.html.
Public health experts recommend practicing good hygiene and taking proactive preventive measures to avoid contracting or spreading COVID-19. These include:
Travelers should refer to the CDC regarding the advisability of travel. Older people and people with severe chronic conditions should take special precautions because they are at higher risk of developing serious COVID-19 illness, and should limit nonessential travel.
Information related to the COVID-19 outbreak is updated frequently; check the following resources for the most up-to-date information: