Monday marked a day of major change, as several regions of Illinois received permission to further relax their coronavirus restrictions as the state changed its mitigation guidelines.
The Illinois Department of Health has announced that due to a change in staffing contracts that is increasing hospital staff across the state, Regions 8, 9, 10 and 11 may move from the most restrictive level 3 to level 2. In addition , Regions 1 and 6 met the values to move to level 1, and Regions 3 and 5 met the values to return to phase 4 of the Restore Illinois plan.
“Hospital leaders have made clear the importance of staff in their ongoing response to this pandemic and have conveyed that staffing contracts will be extraordinarily valuable in their ability to meet the needs of their communities,” said Dr. Ngozi Ezike, director of the Department of Public Health. from Illinois. a declaration. “We are pleased to see that most of our regions are moving away from level 3 mitigation with this change and it is essential that we maintain this progress. With the new COVID-19 spread, it is more important than ever to follow public health instructions that keep people safe – wear and mask and keep your distance. ”
Here’s a look at where each region is located:
Step 4 Attenuations instead:
Region 3 (West Illinois) –
Hancock, Adams, Pike, Calhoun, Jersey, Greene, Scott, Brown, Schuyler, Cass, Morgan, Macoupin, Montgomery, Christian, Sangamon, Logan, Menard, Mason
Region 5 (South Illinois) –
Marion, Jefferson, Wayne, Edwards, Wabash, Perry, Jackson, Franklin, Williamson, Saline, Hamilton, White, Gallatin, Union, Johnson, Pope, Hardin, Alexander, Massac, Pulaski
At this stage, meetings of 50 or fewer people are allowed, and indoor services are allowed at both bars and restaurants with limited capacity, among others. For a full look at what’s allowed at this stage, click here.
Level 1 Attenuations instead:
Region 1 (Northwest 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 that indoor tables can be resumed at limited capacity, but only for food serving units. For a full look at what’s allowed in this level, click here.
Level 2 Attenuations instead:
Region 8 –
Kane, Dupage
Region 9 –
McHenry, Lake
Region 10 –
Suburban chef
Region 11 –
Chicago
Moving to this level means reopening cultural institutions, such as museums and casinos. For a full look at what’s allowed in this level, click here.
Level 3 Attenuations instead:
Region 4 (Southwest Illinois) –
Bond, Madison, St. Clair, Clinton, Washington, Monroe, Randolph
Region 7 –
Will, Kankakee
This is the most restrictive level and is the one in which Illinois has been since the end of last year. For a full look at what’s allowed in this level, click here.
What is needed to pass each level or phase?
According to state guidelines, a region can move to level 2 mitigation if it sees a test positivity rate of less than 12% for three consecutive days and more than 20% of ICUs and hospital beds are available, and COVID-19 hospitalizations declining in seven of the last 10 days.
To move to level 1, regions need to:
- A test positivity rate below 8% for three consecutive days, measured by an average of 7 days; AND
- Greater than or equal to 20 percent available with intensive care and medical / surgical hospital beds for three consecutive days, for an average of 3 days; AND
- No sustained increase in the number of people in the hospital with COVID-19 for seven out of 10 days, on average over 7 days.
However, to move back to phase 4, the regions need to:
- A test positivity rate less than or equal to 6.5 percent for three consecutive days, as measured by a 7-day rolling average; AND
- Greater than or equal to 20 percent available ICU with medical / surgical staff and hospital beds for three consecutive days, for an average of 3 days; AND
- No sustained increase in the number of people in the hospital with COVID-19 for seven out of 10 days, on average over 7 days.