Lollapalooza continues Friday amid rising COVID cases in Chicago
CHICAGO (WLS) -- Lollapalooza continues in Grant Park Friday under strict COVID safety precautions.
Thousands of people flocked to Grant Park on Thursday as the four-day music festival got underway.
Watch Lollapalooza live on Hulu
Friday night the festival tweeted that, following Chicago Department of Public Health guidelines and require masking at all indoor areas.
Organizers said that includes the merchandise store, two small hospitality lounges, the box office and wristband help tents.
The city defended their decision to allow the fest to go on, even though it may be a big risk.
Signs and announcements remind people they need to have proof of either full COVID vaccination or a negative COVID test result.
Unvaccinated guests must wear a mask, and pop up testing sites are all around the perimeter.
"It's easy enough for everyone to go get tested they were offering it right down the street, it's easy enough for everyone to get vaccinated if they feel comfortable and so I feel like it was appropriate, it's not keeping anyone out unless they have COVID which I think is fair," said attendee Reagan Tallmadge.
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The city hoped this would be a safe celebration but case numbers in Chicago are creeping up.
Lolla organizers tweeted Thursday that more than 90% of people showed proof of vaccination, 8% brought negative COVID tests and 600 people didn't bring paperwork and were not allowed in.
COVID tests shown by unvaccinated attendees cannot be more than 72 hours old, so anyone with a four day pass that isn't vaccinated has to get tested twice.
Street closures
-Balbo Drive from Columbus to DuSable Lake Shore Drive closed through Friday, August 6; Balbo closure continues to Michigan Avenue on Monday, July 26, 8 p.m. and remains closed through Monday, August 2.
-Jackson Drive from Columbus to DuSable Lake Shore Drive is closed through Friday, August 6; Jackson closure extended to Michigan Avenue on Monday, July 26 8 p.m. and remains closed through Monday, August 2.
-Columbus from Monroe to Roosevelt will be closed Monday, July 26, 8 p.m. through Monday, August 2; the closure on Columbus is extended to Randolph Street on Monday, July 26 at 8 p.m. and continues through Monday, August 2.Additional northbound center lanes on Columbus from 13th Street to Roosevelt Road will be closed on Monday, July 26 at 8 p.m. and the closure continues through August 2.
-Ida B. Wells/Circle is closed from Michigan to Columbus on Monday, July 26 at 8 p.m. and remains closed through Monday, August 2.
-Monroe Street from Michigan to DuSable Lake Shore Drive is closed Wednesday, July 28 at 8 p.m. and remains closed through 6:30 a.m. Monday, August 2.
