CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Governor Pritzker and Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike announced Thursday a new phase in the Restore Illinois reopening plan with a metrics-based, vaccination-informed framework for Illinois to advance to Phase 5.
Currently, every region of the Illinois is in Phase 4 of the five-phase Restore Illinois reopening plan. In order to get to Phase 5, Governor Pritzker announced a "Bridge Phase" that will serve as a transition period with higher capacity limits at places like museums, zoos, and spectator events, as well as increased business operations, without "prematurely embracing a reckless reopening before the majority of Illinoisans have been vaccinated."
"This will allow Illinois to restore normal operations faster without ignoring the risks ascendant with the new variants that we see rising around us," Pritzker said.
According to IDPH, all regions of the state will move through the Bridge Phase and ultimately to Phase 5, together.
Pritzker said Illinois will move into this Bridge Phase when 70 percent of the state's 65 and over population receives at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine; and the state maintains a 20 percent or lower ICU bed availability rate and holds steady on COVID-19 and COVID-like illness hospital admissions, mortality rate, and case rate over a 28-day monitoring period.
As of Thursday morning, 58 percent of the state's 65+ population has recevied at least one dose of the vaccine.
After a 28-day monitoring period in the Bridge Phase, and assuming no significant resurgence of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths, Illinois will resume normal business operations and move into Phase 5, when at least 50 percent of the state's 16 and over population has received at least one dose; and the state meets the same metrics and rates required to enter the transition phase, over an additional 28-day period.
As of Thurday morning, 28 percent of the state's 16+ population has recevied at least one dose of the vaccine.
To prevent a large increase in new COVID-19 cases, Illinois will revert back to an earlier phase if over the course of 10 days the state experiences an increasing trend in COVID-19 and COVID-like illness hospital admissions, a decrease in ICU bed availability, an increase in the mortality rate, and an increasing case rate.
“We want and need to move forward, but we must be measured and cautious in the approach,” said IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike. “Rather than flipping a switch and saying we’re now in Phase 5, we’re looking at it more like a dial – dialing back some of the capacity restrictions that helped reduce transmission, and ultimately the number of new cases, hospitalizations, and deaths. We don’t want to move too quickly and risk a significant reversal of our progress.”
Under the Bridge Phase, the state’s mask mandate will continue in accordance with current CDC guidance. Pritzker said Illinois will lift its face covering requirement when the CDC recommends it.
"Folks, this is an exciting day. Although we still are in the midsts of a global pandemic, the end seems truly to be in sight. While we're racing against a tough clock — the new, more dangerous variants, that is — it is fully in our power to turn the page on this dark and devastating chapter," Pritzker said. "These vaccines are our fastest ticket back to hugging our grandkids, eating inside restaurants without worrying about the risk, school dances, community celebrations — all the things we miss about normal life. So don't let up. Join me in wearing your mask and getting vaccinated when it's your turn. Step by step, we can get out of this the same way we got into it — and that's together."
Since the COVID-19 vaccine was first made available in Illinois last December, the state has administered over 4.3 million doses. Through partnerships with local health departments, pharmacies, community health centers and other care providers, the state is currently administering an average of 100,000 vaccines each day. So far, the state has administered the COVID-19 vaccine to more than one in four Illinois adults over the age of 16.
Thanks to an increased allocation of vaccine doses from the federal government, all Illinois residents, 16 years of age or older, will be eligible to receive the vaccine beginning April 12. At that date, all state-supported mass vaccination sites, local health departments, pharmacy partners – in short, every jurisdiction that receives vaccine from the State of Illinois’ allocation – will be instructed to move to widespread eligibility.
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“COVID-19 has not gone away, but the light we can see at the end of the tunnel is getting brighter and brighter as more people get vaccinated,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “It’s time to begin to cautiously move toward normalcy, and it’s imperative that we do so in a way that maintains all the progress we’ve made to date. With projections from the Biden Administration indicating that weekly vaccine deliveries to Illinois will surpass one million doses in April, it is fully in our power to turn the page on this dark and devastating chapter even as we race a tough clock: the new variants. I invite all Illinoisans to join me in wearing your mask and getting vaccinated when it’s your turn. Step by step, we can get out of this the same we came into it – together.”
Currently, all vaccines are administered by appointment only. While vaccine eligibility is expanding on April 12, making an appointment to receive a shot may take time. Information regarding vaccination locations as well as details on how to book an appointment to receive the vaccine can be found at the state’s COVID website, coronavirus.illinois.gov. Residents who don’t have access to or need assistance navigating online services can call the toll-free IDPH hotline at 833-621-1284 to book an appointment. The hotline is open seven days a week from 6 a.m. to midnight with agents available in English and Spanish.
To date, the FDA has authorized the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for use in 16- and 17-year-olds, as well as adults. The Johnson & Johnson and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines are currently FDA authorized for use in those 18 and older.
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