One day before Region 2 resurgence mitigations were set to begin in Illinois, Governor J.B. Pritzker gave his daily COVID-19 briefing.
"This is far from over so please take extra caution," said Govenor Pritzker, "wear your mask today and every day going forward until we get through this."
His administration encouraged residents on Election Day to use caution when casting their votes, spending as little time at the polls as possible and properly wearing a mask.
Some local officials have said they don't plan to follow mitigation guidelines. Gov. Pritzker said disobeying the rules is the reason COVID-19 spread will continue.
"The fact is that local officials who are not doing the right thing are the ones who are going to be responsible for the rates of infection going through the roof, and our hospitals getting overrun, and people are dying if they don't enforce the rules," said Governor Pritzker. "That is why the rules exist. We didn't make them up."
Region 2 includes the following counties: Rock Island, Henry, Bureau, Putnam, Kendall, Grundy, Mercer, Knox, Henderson, Warren, McDonough, Fulton, Stark, Marshall, Peoria, Tazwell, McLean, Woodford, Livingston, and Lasalle.
Increased mitigation efforts include:
Bars
- No indoor service
- All outside bar service closes at 11:00 p.m.
- All bar patrons should be seated at tables outside
- No ordering, seating, or congregating at bar (bar stools should be removed)
- Tables should be 6 feet apart
- No standing or congregating indoors or outdoors while waiting for a table or exiting
- No dancing or standing indoors
- Reservations required for each party
- No seating of multiple parties at one table
Restaurants
- No indoor dining or bar service
- All outdoor dining closes at 11:00 p.m.
- Outside dining tables should be 6 feet apart
- No standing or congregating indoors or outdoors while waiting for a table or exiting
- Reservations required for each party
- No seating of multiple parties at one table
Meetings, Social Events, Gatherings
- Limit to lesser of 25 guests or 25 percent of overall room capacity
- No party buses
- Gaming and Casinos close at 11:00 p.m., are limited to 25 percent capacity, and follow mitigations for bars and restaurants, if applicable
With Region 2's addition to the increased mitigation list, the entire state is now affected.
Dr. Ngozi Ezike, the head of the Illinois Department of Public Health, said 3,594 people were hospitalized overnight with 755 in the ICU.
On November 3, there were 6,516 new cases of COVID-19 in Illinois; the state is reporting an additional 68 lives lost.
