State Moves into Phase Four

The state moved to phase four of Governor JB Pritzker’s reopening plan Friday.

It allows inside training at gyms and health clubs and restaurants to seat dine in customers in groups of 10 or less. Mall food courts, museums, and zoos may reopen and youth sports are allowed as well as outdoor seated spectator events, all at limited capacity.

Pritzker says Illinois continued low infection rate of the coronavirus over the past few weeks shows that the state reopened in a responsible manner.

But just how long will Illinois be in phase four? Movement to phase five needs to include a widespread treatment or a vaccine.

Pritzker didn’t budge on what a move to the next phase looks like but he does says if key metrics including hospital utilization rates and ICU capacity remains low then changes could be coming to the current phase – perhaps a phase four point five.

State public health officials say everyone also needs to keep social distancing and washing their hands frequently to help prevent a resurgence of the virus.  Governor Pritzker says if covid cases begin to spike again, he will not hesitate to move Illinois back to tighter restrictions.