Chicago moves to Tier 2 in state coronavirus plan
Some restrictions under the state’s coronavirus recovery plan are easing up in Chicago and surrounding counties after a change in the qualifying metrics brought on by more hospital staffing, the state’s department of health announced Monday.
The Illinois Department of Public Health said the state was launching contracts for a surge staffing program. Mitigation bench marks involving medical and surgical bed limits were subsequently adjusted to reflect the change.
“Hospital leaders have made clear the importance of staffing in their continued response to this pandemic and conveyed that staffing contracts will be extraordinarily valuable in their ability to meet the needs of their communities,” said IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike in a news release.
“With new variants of COVID-19 spreading, it is more important than ever to follow the public health guidance that keeps people safe — wear your mask and watch your distance,” she added.
The changes come a few days after Illinois confirmed its first case of the COVID-19 variant believed to be more contagious and as the state prepares for the next step in its vaccination plan, which will allow those 65 and older to be inoculated.
Under the updated metrics, four regions under the reopening plan will see looser rules. Region 11, which includes Chicago, is affected by the change, as well as the bordering counties.
With these looser rules under Tier 2, meetings and gatherings are limited to 10 people, along with indoor fitness classes. Cultural institutions like museums can reopen at limited capacity, along with casinos. Indoor dining service is not allowed.
The metric shifts also mean a shake-up for other parts of the state.
The northwest corner of the state, Region 1, and east-central counties in Region 6 joined the 20-county north-central Region 2 in Tier 1, which allows for limited indoor dining.
The southernmost counties in Region 5 and the west-central Region 3 are now in the less restrictive phase four of the plan.
Region 4, in the southwest part of the state, and Region 7, which includes Will and Kankakee counties, are still under the most restrictive rules.
State health officials on Monday reported 3,385 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19, raising the total number of cases statewide to 1,072,214. The state recorded 50 deaths, bringing the total number of fatalities to 18,258 since the start of the pandemic.
The statewide case positivity rate for the last week was down to 5.9%.
