Following a sustained improvement in positivity rates, ICU bed availability, and the number of people in the hospital with COVID-19, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) stated that Regions 8 and 9 are on track to move to Tier 1 of the Restore Illinois plan, Tuesday. Most notably, under Tier 1, restaurants and bars can resume limited indoor service.
The following gives details on the regions in the greater Aurora area and the respective mitigation tiers.
• Just moved to Tier 1: Region 8 (Kane and DuPage Counties) and Region 9 (Lake and McHenry);
• Already in Tier 1: Region 7 (Will and Kankakee), Region 10 (Suburban Cook) and Region 11 (Chicago);
• Phase 4 with no additional mitigations: Region 2 (Kendall, LaSalle, and other central/western counties).
Below is a brief summary of the major changes for businesses in Tier 1:
• Bars and restaurants: Indoor service limited to lesser of 25% or 25 persons per room;
• No tables exceeding four persons indoors;
• Suspend indoor service if not serving food;
• Outdoor, delivery and takeout service continues under updated hours;
• Cultural institutions: Open under Phase 4 guidelines;
• Gaming and casinos: Open under Phase 4 rules from Illinois Gaming Board;
• Hotels: Open under Phase 4 guidelines;
• Household gatherings: Allowed with public health guidelines;
• Indoor fitness classes: Open under Phase 4 guidelines;
• Meetings, events, and gatherings (excluding in-person school or sports): Limit to lesser of 25 guests or 25% overall capacity indoors and outdoors;
• Offices: Open under Phase 4 guidelines;
• Organized group recreational activities (Fitness centers, sports):
• Open under Phase 4 guidelines
• Sports follow measures in the All Sport Guidelines
What determines how regions move from Tier 1 to Phase 4 with no mitigation?
In order to move from Tier 1 to Phase 4 (no mitigations), a region must have:
• A test positivity rate ≤ 6.5% for three consecutive days (seven-day average) and
• Staffed hospital and ICU beds ≥ 20% for three consecutive days (three-day average) and
• No sustained increase in COVID patients in hospital (seven-day average more than seven of 10 days)
—Aurora Regional Chamber of Commerce