Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker on Thursday announced new metrics and guidelines for moving the state toward full reopening, revealing what he called a “bridge phase” that would allow for higher capacity limits before entering. in phase 5.
The new phase will limit capacity at venues such as museums, zoos and spectator events, as well as increase commercial operations, the state announced, but masks will continue to be required.
The updated guidelines bridge the gap between Phase 4, which is currently in the state, and Phase 5, which would mark a complete reopening and require a widely available vaccine or highly effective treatment.
According to the governor, the so-called Bridge Phase “will serve as a transition period with higher capacity limits and increased business operations, without prematurely encompassing a reckless reopening before most Illinoisans have been vaccinated.”
“We want and need to move forward, but we need to be measured and prudent in our approach,” Drs. Ngozi Ezike, director of the Illinois Department of Public Health. “Instead of reversing a switch and saying that we are now in Phase 5, we are looking at it more as a marking: marking some of the capacity constraints that helped reduce transmission and ultimately the number of cases new, hospitalizations and deaths. We don’t want to move too fast and risk changing our progress significantly. “
Unlike the previous phases and mitigations, all of Illinois will go through the Bridge phase and phase 5 together, once they meet the required metrics.
In order for Illinois to advance to the Bridge phase, the entire state must achieve a first-dose vaccination rate of 70% for residents 65 and older, in addition to maintaining the current metrics required of at least 20% of beds available in the ICU and remain firm hospitalizations for COVID-19 or COVID-like illnesses, mortality rates and case rates over a 28-day control period.
To move to phase 5, the state must achieve a 50% vaccination rate for residents over the age of 16 and meet the same metrics and rates required to enter the transition phase, for an additional period of 28 years. days, state officials said.
“COVID-19 has not disappeared, but the light we can see at the end of the tunnel is getting brighter as more people are vaccinated,” Pritzker said in a statement. “It’s time to start moving cautiously towards normalcy and it’s imperative that we do it in a way that keeps up with all the progress we’ve made so far.”
The state could be forced to return to an earlier phase if, over the course of ten days, the state experiences a growing trend in hospital admissions for diseases similar to COVID-19 and COVID, a decrease in the availability of beds. the ICU, an increase in the mortality rate, and a rising case rate, the state said.
In addition to announcing the transition phase, the state also made changes to the current phase 4 guidelines.
Under a new rule, anyone who has full vaccination tests or a negative PCR test for COVID-19 within one or three days after an event or departure will not count for capacity limits.
In addition, in phase 4, lower-risk activities that were not allowed or were allowed with a lower capacity were expanded.
“As regulations gradually roll back in the coming weeks, Illinois residents should continue to practice the public health guidelines that have kept us safe during the pandemic, including face-to-face coverage and maintaining social distance,” he said. say the state in a statement.
Still, Chicago said it “evaluates published guidelines.” [Thursday] and will publish the updated city guidelines early next week. “
Here is a complete breakdown of the phase changes:
Phase 4
dining room
Seated areas: patterns ≥ 6 feet apart; parties ≤ 10
Standing areas: 25% capacity
Health and fitness
50% capacity
Group fitness classes of 50 or less indoors or 100 or less outdoors *
Offices
50% capacity
Personal care
50% capacity
Retail trade and services
50% capacity
Amusement parks
25% capacity *
General entrance outdoor festivals and spectator events
15 people per 1,000 square feet *
Flea and farmer markets
25% capacity or 15 people per 1,000 square feet
Film production
50% capacity
Meetings, conferences and conventions
Place with capacity <200 people: Less than 50 people or 50% capacity *
Place with capacity ≥ 200 people: less than 250 people or 25% capacity *
Museums
25% capacity
Recreation
Inside: less than 50 people or 50% capacity
Outdoors: maximum groups of 50; several groups are allowed
Social events
Inside: less than 50 people or 50% capacity *
Outdoors: less than 100 people or 50% capacity *
Spectator events (with entrance and seating)
Indoor space with capacity <200 people: less than 50 people or 50% capacity *
Outdoor or indoor space with capacity ≥ 200 people: 25% capacity *
Theaters and performing arts
Indoor space with a capacity of less than 200 people: less than 50 or 50% capacity
Outdoor or indoor space with capacity ≥ 200 people: 25% capacity *
Zoos
25% capacity
Less than 50 or 50% in indoor exhibitions
Bridge phase
dining room
Seated areas: patterns ≥ 6 feet apart; parties ≤ 10
Standing areas: 30% capacity inside; 50% capacity outside
Health and fitness
60% capacity
Group fitness classes of 50 or less indoors or 100 or less outdoors
Offices
60% capacity
Personal care
60% capacity
Retail trade and services
60% capacity
Amusement parks
60% capacity *
General entrance outdoor festivals and spectator events
30 people per 1,000 square feet *
Flea and farmer markets
Inside: 15 people per 1,000 square feet
Outside: 30 people per 1,000 square feet
Film production
60% capacity
Meetings, conferences and conventions
Less than 1,000 people or 60% capacity ^
Museums
60% capacity
Recreation
Inside: less than 100 people or 50% capacity
Outdoors: maximum groups of 100; several groups are allowed
Social events
Inside: 250 people
Outdoors: 500 people
Spectator events (with entrance and seating)
60% capacity
Theaters and performing arts
60% capacity
Zoos
60% capacity
In addition to changes to the reopening framework, Pritzker also announced that eligibility for the COVID-19 vaccine will be extended to all Illinois residents over the age of 16, except those in the city of Chicago, from of April 12th.
All Illinois residents over the age of 16 will be eligible for vaccination as of April 12, Pritzker said, adding that state officials in the coming days would provide more information on certain populations that will be eligible before ‘that final expansion.