The bar is open in Will, Kankakee counties
Pritzker, IDPH restore Region 7 to Phase 4; COVID warning list trimmed to 24 counties
Hayden’s Crossing in Wilmington has only been open for takeout orders while stricter COVID mitigation measures were in place in Will County. (Facebook/Hayden’s Crossing)
By Ted Cox
The bar is open in Will and Kankakee counties. Restaurants are open for indoor dining too.
Gov. Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Public Health announced that Region 7 in the plan to Restore Illinois would be fully returned to Phase 4 in the program effective at 5 p.m. Friday, meaning bars and restaurants are open for indoor service, and gatherings of up to 50 people are once again permitted.
Pritzker praised the residents of the two counties, issuing a statement saying: “Today, Region 7 — Will and Kankakee counties — will return to the standard Phase 4 of the Restore Illinois plan because residents chose to be all in for each other, for their small businesses, for their bars and restaurants, for their kids, for their neighbors. Let that be a testament to the power of a community that embraces doctor-recommended mitigations proven to reduce risk and slow the spread. We can’t outrun this virus, but with the tools we know to work — masks, distancing, hand washing, and respect for public health and each other — we can beat it back enough to keep our businesses open and our neighborhoods safer all at once. Don’t let up now, Region 7 — let’s keep this success going.”
Pritzker referred to Region 7, the Metro East area across the Mississippi River from St. Louis, as it too faced stricter mitigation measures after the positivity rate on COVID-19 testing rose above 8 percent last month. After facing new restrictions late last mont, Will and Kankakee counties gradually lowered their positivity rate below the threshold of 6.5 percent and were granted a return to Phase 4. As of Friday, they had a rolling positivity rate of 5.6 percent. Region 4 had new restrictions imposed a month ago, but originally was allowed indoor bar and restaurant service until 11 p.m., consistent with restrictions in St. Louis. Yet after its positivity rose above 10 percent Pritzker imposed the same indoor ban on bars and restaurants as in Region 7. Metro East has made progress, but remains closed to indoor service with a positivity rate above 8 percent.
Illinois Director of Public Health Dr. Ngozi Ezike joined Pritzker in praising Will and Kankakee counties Friday, saying, “I want to commend and thank those in Region 7 for working together to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in their communities. Moving from a greater than 8 percent rolling positivity rate to below 6.5 percent in a matter of weeks demonstrates how concerted efforts to reduce exposure risks through limiting large gatherings, increased masking, and other mitigation measures can truly make a difference. It also shows how quickly the positivity rate can move, in either direction. Because of the speed in which the rate can change, we must continue to wear our masks, watch our distance, and follow the guidance in Phase 4 of Restore Illinois. It will take all of us working together to get through this.”
IDPH confirmed 2,120 new cases of COVID-19 Friday, bringing the state’s overall total to 270,327, while 20 new deaths attributed to the coronavirus took the statewide toll to 8,411. But the statewide seven-day positivity rate for testing held at 3.6 percent.
IDPH trimmed its formal warning list to 24 counties put on notice for rising COVID-19 infections, down from 30 a week ago. The new list included Bond, Bureau, Cass, Clinton, Coles, Crawford, Cumberland, DeWitt, Edwards, Effingham, Greene, Jasper, Jo Daviess, Lawrence, Madison, Marion, Rock Island, Shelby, St. Clair, Wabash, Washington, Wayne, Williamson, and Union counties. Cumberland, DeWitt, Edwards, Jo Daviess, Marion, Rock Island, Wabash, Wayne, and Union counties were newly added. DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, Hancock, Henderson, Jackson, Jersey, McLean, Monroe, Morgan, Pulaski, Schuyler, Stark, Tazewell, and Vermilion dropped off the list.