SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — If COVID-19 numbers continue to improve in Illinois, Gov. J-B Pritzker says the state is on track to enter Phase Five of the Restore Illinois Plan in July.
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot has announced her goal to fully reopen the city by July 4.
That’s a real possibility statewide according to Gov. Pritzker, so long as variants, such as the U-K variant, don’t cause an increase in COVID cases and hospitalizations.
“Our hospitalizations have flattened, that’s a good thing. We just don’t want to see it flare back up again, so we’re watching closely,” Pritzker said.
The governor is hopeful that Illinois will soon be in the Bridge Phase. Then, if numbers hold or decline for a 28-day period, the state can move to Phase Five, which is a full reopening.
In the meantime, Pritzker said the fastest way to get to Phase Five is to vaccinate as many people as possible.
Nearly 80% of Illinois seniors and 55% of those 16 and older have received at least one dose of the COVID vaccines so far.
