Illinois officially moves into the “Bridge Phase” today.
Governor JB Pritzker says thanks to declining Covid cases and hospitalizations, some restrictions will be loosened up a bit.
“The capacity limits have increased over time. When we got to Phase 4 it was like 50% in many of the crowded locations like retail or bars and restaurants and so on. This will increase for them to 60%. But also weddings will increase and other kinds of outdoor gatherings and so on.”
If Covid numbers continue to decline, the state will move to Phase Five, full reopening in about a month.
The change takes place on the same day the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is easing mask-wearing guidance for fully vaccinated people, allowing them to stop wearing masks outdoors in crowds and in most indoor settings. The new guidance still calls for wearing masks in crowded indoor settings like buses, planes, hospitals, prisons and homeless shelter, but it will help clear the way for reopening workplaces and schools.
Salem Grade School Superintendent Dr. Leslie Foppe noted Thursday afternoon the Illinois State Board of Education has not changed their guidance, so the mask mandate in schools will continue at least for now.
The Illinois Department of Public Health on Thursday announced 1,918 new cases of coronavirus and 35 additional deaths. One of the deaths was a male in his 60s in Wayne County. It is the 54th death in the county. None of the other deaths were in Southern Illinois.
The Marion County Health Department did not release new local numbers on Thursday.
Clinton County is reporting two new positive cases. 12 are currently on home isolation and three are hospitalized.
The Jefferson County Health Department is reporting three new cases and 27 currently in isolation.
The Washington County Health Department is reporting six new cases over the past three days. The county now has nine active cases and one who is hospitalized.
The statewide positivity rate remains at 2.7-percent.
