|
JULY MAY
BE WHEN PRITZKER CAUTIOUSLY LIFTS ILLINOIS COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS
Illinois Policy Institute/
Patrick Andriesen
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Illinois
could fully reopen in July, but fully reopen with some permanent
restrictions. The state has yet to enter the ‘bridge phase’ to reopening
that he added in March. |
|
 Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker predicts the state is on track to
fully reopen in July, hitting his Phase 5: Illinois Restored metrics. But “fully
reopen” and “Illinois Restored” are misleading terms, details in his plan show.
Phase 5 is defined as: “All sectors of the economy reopen with new health and
hygiene practices permanently in place.”
Permanently.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on May 3 lifted all COVID-19 restrictions. Retail
stocks surged on news New York, New Jersey and Connecticut would lift most of
their restrictions May 19.
Illinois hit its lowest infection rate in more than a month, with a 3.3%
positivity rate, on the day Pritzker said July was a maybe.
Illinois is still waiting to start the “Bridge Phase” Pritzker added in March.
Maybe in a week, Pritzker said May 4.
Then maybe in July the state’s economy can look forward to those permanent
“practices.”
“But I’m optimistic,” Pritzker said. “I think things are going in the right
direction.”
After a 28-day monitoring period of continued stability or decline in key
COVID-19 metrics, Illinois would lift all capacity limits and resume large
gatherings with new safety protocols.
Pritzker delivered his news with Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot as they announced
the Chicago Auto Show will take place at McCormick Place from July 15 to 19.
Lightfoot said her goal is to have Chicago fully open by July 4.
[
to
top of second column] |
“We’re seeing on a daily basis steady progress in
all the metrics that we follow, particularly new case rates,
hospitalizations and percent positivity,” Lightfoot said. “All of
those things are trending in the right direction and our modeling
suggests that’s going to continue to do so at a time when we’re
seeing steady progress on vaccines.”
Currently, 32.5% of the state is fully vaccinated.
While the state has met its vaccination goals for
its senior population, the April spike in cases and hospitalizations
in Illinois pushed back plans to loosen restrictions in Illinois.
Chicago announced last week that it’s easing some restrictions
around indoor dining and events as more residents get vaccinated
against COVID-19 and the positivity rate continues to decline.
Chicago restaurants and bars are up to 50% capacity or 100 people
per room, whichever is smaller. Large indoor venues, including the
United Center and churches, can operate at 25% capacity.
Meetings, conferences and conventions can operate at 25% or 250
people. Outdoor festivals, outdoor spectator events and flea and
farmers markets can operate at 25% capacity or 15 people per 1,000
square feet.
Lightfoot reiterated in the press conference that vaccination is the
pathway to “get our economy back on track, get our workers back, get
our businesses back.”
Pritzker urged caution: “We can’t predict the future and this virus
has proven to be very challenging.”
Click here to respond to the editor about this article |
