Lollapalooza Saturday: Day 3 of music festival includes new mask requirements
Lollapalooza Chicago 2021: As COVID cases creep up across area, officials rapidly make changes
CHICAGO (WLS) -- Day three of Lollapalooza Saturday comes with new rules for Chicago's biggest music festival.
Changes are happening across Chicago, as rising COVID-19 cases have health officials cracking down to slow the spread.
As of Saturday, concertgoers at Lollapalooza are required to wear masks in all indoor spaces, regardless of vaccination status.
The new policy follows the city's latest guidance, as Chicago officials now urge everyone to wear a mask indoors.
The new mask advisory comes as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns that the delta variant can be spread by people who are fully vaccinated and have a breakthrough infection.
"I am wearing a mask just to be safe," said Lolla attendee Karen Maze.
But there are mixed opinions.
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"We're hoping that this is as far as it goes. We definitely don't want to see a mandate," said Sam Sanchez, chair of the Illinois Restaurant Association.
At Lolla, you must wear a mask in indoor spaces like the merchandise shop, hospitality lounges, wristband help tents and the box office.
Watch Lollapalooza live on Hulu
Concertgoers are already required to show proof of vaccination or proof of a negative COVID test.
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.
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"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.
Unvaccinated guests also must wear a mask, and pop-up testing sites are all around the fest's perimeter.
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.
The music festival, which brings about 100,000 people to Grant Park each day, ends Sunday night.
Street closures
-Balbo Drive from Columbus Drive to DuSable Lake Shore Drive will be closed through Friday, Aug. 6; Balbo closure continues to Michigan Avenue on Monday, July 26, 8 p.m. and remains closed through Monday, Aug. 2.
-Jackson Drive from Columbus to DuSable Lake Shore Drive is closed through Friday, Aug. 6; Jackson closure extended to Michigan Avenue on Monday, July 26 8 p.m. and remains closed through Monday, Aug. 2.
-Columbus from Monroe Street to Roosevelt Road will be closed Monday, July 26, 8 p.m. through Monday, Aug. 2; the closure on Columbus is extended to Randolph Street on Monday, July 26 at 8 p.m. and continues through Monday, Aug. 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 Aug. 2.
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-Ida B. Wells/Circle is closed from Michigan to Columbus on Monday, July 26 at 8 p.m. and remains closed through Monday, Aug. 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, Aug. 2.
