SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — As cases of COVID-19 resurge across the nation, including Illinois, albeit to a lesser extent than some “hotspots,” Gov. J.B. Pritzker has announced a statewide mitigation plan.
Pritzker and Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike at a Wednesday briefing rolled out said plan.
The plan outlines three tiers of generalized and industry-specific actions that can be taken to help stop the spread of the virus.
The mitigations will be applied on a regional basis, taking into account 11 regions across the state.
The North-Central Region consists of Peoria County, and also includes Tazewell, Woodford, Stark, Marshall, Putnam, Knox, and Fulton.
In order for a region to become more restrictive, there must be a sustained increase in a seven-day rolling average in that respective region’s positive test rate. Additionally, there must also be sustained seven-day increase in hospital admissions for COVID symptoms, or a reduction in hospital capacity threatening surge capabilities, meaning intensive care unit capacity must be under 20%.
The other factor that could cause more restrictions to be enacted would be a three day period of consecutive 8% or more positivity rates.
Tier one of the plan includes reducing indoor dining capacity at restaurants and bars. Tier two involves suspending indoor dining and bar service, while tier three would mean suspending all dining on-premises, and providing only takeout.
Other industries involved in the tiered approach include hospitals, religious facilities, offices, gyms, retail, and salons.
The IDPH reported 1,187 new cases of COVID-19.
This broke a three-day streak of case counts below 1,000.
The statewide positive test rate went up to 3.1%.
