Pritzker Announces Restore Illinois:
A Public Health Approach To Safely Reopen Our State
Restore Illinois is a Five-Phase, Regional
Plan for Saving Lives, Livelihoods, and Safely Reopening Illinois
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[August 13, 2020]
Building
on data, science, and guidance from public health experts and after
consulting with stakeholders across the state, Governor JB Pritzker
announced Restore Illinois, a five-phase plan focused on saving
lives, livelihood, and safely reopening Illinois.
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“"We have to figure out how to live with COVID-19
until it can be vanquished – and to do so in a way that best
supports our residents’ health and our healthcare systems, and saves
the most lives," said Governor JB Pritzker. "Restore Illinois is a
public health plan to safely reintroduce the parts of our lives that
have been put on hold in our fight against COVID-19. This is also a
data-driven plan that operates on a region-by-region basis, a
recognition that reality on the ground looks different in different
areas of our state."
The five-phase plan is guided by public health metrics designed to
provide a framework for reopening businesses, education, and
recreational activities in each phase. This initial plan can and
will be updated as research and science develop and as the potential
for effective treatments or vaccines is realized.
The five-phase plan is based on regional healthcare availability and
recognizes the distinct impact COVID-19 has had on different regions
of our state as well as regional variations in hospital capacity.
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has 11 Emergency
Medical Services Regions that have traditionally guided its
statewide public health work. For the purposes of Restore Illinois,
from those 11, four health regions are established, each with the
ability to independently move through a phased approach: Northeast
Illinois; North-Central Illinois; Central Illinois; and Southern
Illinois.
The five phases of reopening for each health region
are as follows:
Phase 1 – Rapid Spread: The rate of infection among those
tested and the number of patients admitted to the hospital is high
or rapidly increasing. Strict stay at home and social distancing
guidelines are put in place and only essential businesses remain
open. Every region has experienced this phase once already and could
return to it if mitigation efforts are unsuccessful.
Phase 2 – Flattening: The rate of infection
among those tested and the number of patients admitted to the
hospital beds and ICU beds increases at an ever slower rate, moving
toward a flat and even a downward trajectory. Non-essential retail
stores reopen for curb-side pickup and delivery. Illinoisans are
directed to wear a face covering when outside the home, and can
begin enjoying additional outdoor activities like golf, boating and
fishing while practicing social distancing. To varying degrees,
every region is experiencing flattening as of early May.
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Phase 3 – Recovery: The rate of infection
among those tested, the number of patients admitted to the hospital,
and the number of patients needing ICU beds is stable or declining.
Manufacturing, offices, retail, barbershops and salons can reopen to
the public with capacity and other limits and safety precautions.
All gatherings limited to 10 or fewer people are allowed. Face
coverings and social distancing are the norm.
Phase 4 – Revitalization: The rate of infection among those
tested and the number of patients admitted to the hospital continues
to decline. All gatherings of up to 50 people are allowed,
restaurants and bars reopen, travel resumes, child care and schools
reopen under guidance from the IDPH. Face coverings and social
distancing are the norm.
Phase 5 – Illinois Restored: With a vaccine or highly
effective treatment widely available or the elimination of any new
cases over a sustained period, the economy fully reopens with safety
precautions continuing. Conventions, festivals and large events are
permitted, and all businesses, schools, and places of recreation can
open with new safety guidance and procedures in place reflecting the
lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Until COVID-19 is defeated, Restore Illinois
recognizes that as health metrics tell us it is safe to move
forward, health metrics may also tell us to return to a prior phase.
With a vaccine or treatment not yet available, IDPH will be closely
monitoring key metrics to immediately identify new growth in cases
and hospitalizations to determine whether a return to a prior phase
is needed.
As millions of Illinoisans continue working together by staying at
home and following experts’ recommendations, the result has been a
lower infection rate, lower hospitalizations, and lower number of
fatalities than without these measures. As the state’s curve begins
to flatten, the risk of spread remains, and modeling and data point
to a rapid surge in new cases if all mitigation measures are
immediately lifted. The governor and his administration continue to
urge all Illinois residents to follow the state’s stay at home order
and to follow the guidance issued by the state and public health
experts.
CLICK HERE to
view or download the full Restore Illinois plan - Pdf
[Office of the Governor JB Pritzker] |