CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago’s Navy Pier has fully reopened its outdoor entertainment options and nearly all indoor facilities after the coronavirus pandemic forced closures at the busy tourist destination.
Officials said the Chicago Children’s Museum and the Chicago Shakespeare Theater will remain closed. The reopening includes retail stores and restaurants, tour boats and cruises, and all carnival rides.
Navy Pier was closed from September through the end of April when officials began a slow reopening.
More cities and states are shrugging off lingering COVID-19 restrictions as vaccination rates rise and the number of infections falls. Massachusetts lifted its mask mandate and restrictions on businesses Saturday. In New York City and Chicago, officials reopened public beaches. Other states, including Minnesota, Virginia, and New Jersey, have recently lifted pandemic restrictions.
It’s one more sign of progress that reflects increasingly positive health data. Federal health officials say about half of the country has received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine. Leading the nation is Vermont, where nearly 70% of the population has received at least one dose.
