27-Nov-20 – Pedestrian activity in the Loop during the last week of October was down 69 percent compared to the same week in 2019, but only seven percent from the week before.

Chicago Loop Alliance, working to attract people back to the Loop and accelerate economic recovery, says pedestrian activity and office occupancy in the Loop are “holding steady” compared to September 2020 numbers.

According to its report on business operations in the Loop in October, parking volumes decreased from September to October, but CLA says that is because more people are taking public transportation.

At a virtual event hosted by Chicago Loop Alliance in October, Dr. Robert Murphy, an infectious disease expert for Northwestern Medicine, said public transportation has not been a major spreader of COVID-19 and, with masks and social distancing, is a safe way to get to work.

Murphy recommended businesses stagger their start times to avoid crowding on public transportation.