Illinois eases COVID restrictions for multiple regions, bringing some back to Phase 4 – NBC Chicago

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Monday marked a day of major change, with several parts of Illinois being allowed to ease their coronavirus restrictions even further as the state changed its mitigation guidelines.

The Illinois Department of Health has announced that due to a change in staffing contracts, which increases hospital staffing statewide, Regions 8, 9, 10 and 11 may be upgraded from Level 3 most restrictive at Level 2. In addition, Regions 1 and 6 met the parameters to move to Level 1, and Regions 3 and 5 met the parameters to return to Phase 4 of the Restore Illinois plan.

“Hospital leaders have made it clear the importance of staffing in their continued response to this pandemic and indicated that staffing contracts will be extremely valuable in their ability to meet the needs of their communities,” said Dr Ngozi Ezike, director of the Illinois Department of Public Health in a statement. “We are pleased to see most of our regions move out of Tier 3 mitigation with this change, and sustaining this progress is critical. With the new variants of COVID-19 spreading, it’s more important than ever to follow public health guidelines that keep people safe – wear and mask and watch your distance. “

Here is an overview of the situation in each region:

Phase 4 mitigation in place:

Region 3 (West Illinois) –

Hancock, Adams, Pike, Calhoun, Jersey, Greene, Scott, Brown, Schuyler, Cass, Morgan, Macoupin, Montgomery, Christian, Sangamon, Logan, Menard, Mason

Region 5 (Southern Illinois) –

Marion, Jefferson, Wayne, Edwards, Wabash, Perry, Jackson, Franklin, Williamson, Saline, Hamilton, White, Gallatin, Union, Johnson, Pope, Hardin, Alexander, Massac, Pulaski

In this phase, gatherings of 50 people or less are allowed and indoor service is allowed in bars and restaurants with limited capacity, among others. For a full overview of what is allowed in this phase, click here.

Level 1 mitigations in place:

Region 1 (Northwestern Illinois) –

Jo Davies, Stephenson, Winnebago, Boone, Dekalb, Carrol, Ogle, Whiteside, Lee, Crawford

Region 2 (West Central Illinois) –

Rock Island, Henry, Bureau, Putnam, Kendall, Grundy, Mercer, Knox, Henderson, Warren, McDonough, Fulton, Stark, Marshall, Peoria, Tazwell, McLean, Woodford, Livingston, Lasalle

Region 6 (East Central Illinois) –

Iroquois, Ford, Dewitt, Piatt, Champaign, Vermillion, Macon, Moultrie, Douglas, Edgar, Shelby, Coles, Cumberland, Clark, Fayette, Effingham, Jasper, Crawford, Clay, Richland, Lawrence

Moving to this level means indoor dining can resume at a limited capacity, but only for establishments serving food. For a full overview of what is allowed in this level, click here.

Level 2 mitigation in place:

Region 8 –

Kane, Dupage

Region 9 –

McHenry, lake

Region 10 –

Suburban cook

Region 11 –

Chicago

A move to this level means the reopening of cultural institutions such as museums and casinos. For a full overview of what is allowed in this level, click here.

Level 3 mitigations in place:

Region 4 (southwest Illinois) –

Bond, Madison, Sainte-Claire, Clinton, Washington, Monroe, Randolph

Region 7 –

Will, Kankakee

This is the most restrictive level and that of Illinois since the end of last year. For a full overview of what is allowed in this level, click here.

What does it take to pass each level or phase?

According to state guidelines, a region may move to Level 2 mitigation measures if it finds a test positivity rate of less than 12% for three consecutive days and more than 20% of intensive care beds and more hospitals are available, as well as a drop in COVID-19 hospitalizations in seven of the previous 10 days.

To upgrade to level 1, regions need:

  1. A test positivity rate of less than 8 percent for three consecutive days, as measured by the 7-day moving average; AND
  2. Greater than or equal to 20 percent of staff available in ICUs and medical-surgical hospital beds for three consecutive days, on a three-day moving average; AND
  3. No sustained increase in the number of people in hospital with COVID-19 for seven out of 10 days, on an average of 7 days.

However, to return to phase 4, regions need:

  1. A test positivity rate of 6.5% or less for three consecutive days, as measured by the 7-day moving average; AND
  2. Greater than or equal to 20 percent of staff available in ICUs and medical-surgical hospital beds for three consecutive days, on a three-day moving average; AND
  3. No sustained increase in the number of people in hospital with COVID-19 for seven out of 10 days, on an average of 7 days.



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