CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker says some regions of Illinois can begin moving out of “Tier 3” mitigations against coronavirus later this week, provided their metrics consistently improve.
Pritzker on Nov. 20 imposed unpopular Tier 3 restrictions, which ban indoor service at bars and restaurants and shutter indoor entertainment complexes such as cinemas and casinos. Many retailers must limit capacity to 25%, while large stores such as supermarkets are capped at 50%.
Pritzker said regions can begin rolling back into less-restrictive scenarios as soon as Jan. 15, Friday, provided they meet certain factors, such as maintaining test positivity rates of less than 12% for three days and seeing a decrease in the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations. There are 11 regions in Illinois.
Some had hoped Pritzker would ease up on restrictions following the recent holidays, especially because the state’s COVID-19 generally have stabilized. The Illinois statewide positivity rate on tests has fallen to 7.6% from 7.9%, which is better than some states that are in double-digits.
“Our success is relative, and it's precious,” Pritzker said Monday.
On Monday, the Illinois Department of Public Health reported 4,776 new confirmed or presumed cases of novel coronavirus, including 53 additional deaths.
Also Monday, Pritzker said the state continues to administer COVID-19 vaccines to frontline healthcare workers and nursing home residents. That effort will be widening soon to include other groups of people, he said.