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As Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has announced that several areas of Illinois will soon see stronger mitigations under the state’s Level 2 coronavirus plan, here’s a look at what implies level 2 and new restrictions.
Level 2 is the second phase of improved mitigation measures under the plan announced by Pritzker in July that divided the state into 11 healthcare regions to allow for a more focused approach to responding to the pandemic.
Regions 5, 7 and 8 will see the state’s Level 2 mitigation plan come into effect on Wednesday, the governor said. Region 5 is the southernmost part of the state, Region 7 is Will and Kankakee counties in the southern suburbs, and Region 8 is Kane and DuPage counties in the western suburbs.
Each of Illinois’ 11 regions was already under increased restrictions triggered automatically by an increase in parameters such as the rate of positivity in tests and increased hospital admissions. All regions except one were previously level 1 mitigations, eliminating indoor meals, reducing parade sizes, and more.
Northwestern Illinois Region 1 has been subject to Level 2 mitigation measures since last month. Any region will trigger level 2 restrictions if its positivity rate remains above the 8% threshold after 14 days below level 1 attenuations.
For level 2, all level 1 mitigations still apply, including:
Bars
• All bars close at 11:00 p.m. and can reopen at 6:00 a.m. the next day at the earliest.
• No interior service
• All bar customers must be seated at tables outside
• No orders, seats or meetings at the bar (bar stools must be removed)
• Tables should be spaced 6 feet apart
• Do not stand or congregate indoors or outdoors while waiting for a table or when leaving
• No dancing or standing inside
• Reservations required for each party
• No seating for multiple parties at a table
Restaurants
• All restaurants close at 11:00 p.m. and can reopen at 6:00 a.m. the next day at the earliest.
• No meals inside or bar service
• Tables should be spaced 6 feet apart
Not standing or congregating indoors or outdoors while waiting for a table or going out
• Reservations required for each party
• No seating for multiple parties at a table
Social meetings
• Applicable to gatherings of professional, cultural and social groups.
• Does not apply to students participating in classroom learning, sports or
polling stations.
• It does not reduce the overall capacity of the installation dictated by general activities
advice such as office, retail, etc.
• No party bus
• Games and casinos close at 11:00 pm, are limited to 25% capacity, and
monitor mitigation measures for bars and restaurants, if applicable
Level 2 of the plan adds further assembly size limitations, reducing the limit to 10 people in indoor and outdoor environments as well as organized group recreation.
It also reduces table sizes for restaurants and bars to a maximum of six people in bars and restaurants, which are still limited to alfresco dining and service only.
If a region continues to see a “sustained resurgence” of coronavirus settings after 14 days with Level 2 mitigation measures in place, the region may see more stringent measures put in place at Level 3.
If a region reaches level 3, elective surgeries will be suspended, assembly sizes will again be restricted, recreation spaces like gymnasiums may be forced to close, salon and personal care services will be suspended, and retailers will not. essentials could be forced to close their doors once. again.
“It’s the last thing I want to do but I’m ready to do it,” Pritzker said on Friday.
The governor declined to give details of any restrictions that may be coming and although he previously said another stay-at-home order was not on the table on Friday, he said he couldn’t guarantee what might happen in the coming weeks.
“I don’t see the broader home stay mitigation as something I would do in the days or week to come, but I can’t guarantee what it will look like in two weeks or three weeks – I None of us, frankly, expected the whole country to be swept away by an increase in COVID-19, ”he said.
Pritzker added on Friday that he currently has no plans to close outdoor restaurants.
Illinois reported more than 10,000 new cases of the coronavirus on Monday.
In the last week alone, data showed the state’s case positivity rate rose from 8% to 11.4%. In the past month, that number has almost tripled.
Along with increasing cases and positivity rates, the state has also seen a continued increase in hospitalizations from the virus. According to data from the IDPH, 4,409 residents are currently hospitalized due to coronavirus-like illnesses. Of these patients, 857 are currently in intensive care units and 376 are on ventilators.
“We are coming to the point where we are really concerned,” IDPH director Dr Ngozi Ezike said on Thursday. “We are concerned that there is not enough bed for everyone.”
Illinois averaged 3,400 coronavirus hospitalizations last week, well above the 1,500 the state reported in early October.
“If the current trajectory continues, if our hospitals continue to fill up, if more and more people continue to lose their lives from this disease, we will implement further mitigation measures across the board. state – which nobody wants to do, “warned Pritzker.
He noted that the condition is currently setting new records in testing, but “the rate of growth in our positivity far exceeds our growth in testing.”
“The more we test, the more people we find infected with the virus,” Pritzker said. “This is terrible news. On the other hand, we find people infected earlier, both because people are tested when contacted or when they have been exposed to a sick person. Don’t wait to develop symptoms. the earlier you take the test, the more likely you are to limit the spread of the virus to your family, friends or colleagues. “
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