Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) announced Monday that COVID-19 resurgence mitigations will be implemented in Region 1, which holds the most northwestern counties in the state. The measures will begin on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2020.
According to a press release, the region is seeing a seven-day rolling average test positivity rate of 8% or above for three consecutive days, which exceeds the threshold set for establishing mitigation measures in the region under the state’s Restore Illinois Resurgence Plan.
Region 1 includes Boone, Carroll, DeKalb, Jo Daviess, Lee, Ogle, Stephenson, Whiteside and Winnebago counties.
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In the past week, Region 1 also had an early indication of increasing hospital admissions for COVID-like illnesses.
Mitigation measures taking effect Oct. 3 in Region 1 include the following:
Bars
• No indoor service
• All outside bar service closes at 11:00 p.m.
• All bar patrons should be seated at tables outside
• No ordering, seating, or congregating at bar (bar stools should be removed)
• Tables should be six feet apart
• No standing or congregating indoors or outdoors while waiting for a table or exiting
• No dancing or standing indoors
• Reservations required for each party
• No seating of multiple parties at one table
Restaurants
• No indoor dining or bar service
• All outdoor dining closes at 11:00 p.m.
• Outside dining tables should be six feet apart
• No standing or congregating indoors or outdoors while waiting for a table or exiting
• Reservations required for each party
• No seating of multiple parties at one table
Meetings, Social Events and Gatherings
• Limit to the lesser of 25 guests or 25% of overall room capacity
• No party buses
• Gaming and casinos close at 11:00 p.m., are limited to 25% capacity and, if applicable, follow mitigations for bars and restaurants
These mitigations do not currently apply to schools.
The release says IDPH will track the positivity rate in Region 1 to determine if mitigations can be relaxed, if additional mitigations are required or if current mitigations should remain in place.
If the positivity rate averages less than or equal to 6.5% for three consecutive days, then Regions 1 will return to Phase 4 mitigations under the Restore Illinois Plan. If the positivity rate averages between 6.5% and 8%, the new mitigations will remain in place and unchanged. If the positivity rate averages greater than or equal to 8% after 14 days, more stringent mitigations can be applied to further reduce spread of the virus.