ILLINOIS, USA — Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced the next phase of the state's COVID-19 vaccine distribution and said regions could soon loosen restrictions in his first pandemic update in 2021.
Vaccine distribution
Prtizker said the state will move from Phase 1A to Phase 1B when the first stage is "substantially complete". In the first phase, health care personnel and residents of long-term care facilities were prioritized.
In Phase 1B, all Illinois residents 65-years-old and older and frontline essential workers will be next to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.
"We are getting shots into arms and that's exactly what we need to end this pandemic," Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike said.
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Around 3.2 million people throughout Illinois are expected to be vaccinated in Phase 1B, Pritzker said. Frontline essential workers and residents 65 years and older are prioritized due to their higher risk of exposure and higher risk of complications or death.
The Illinois National Guard will assist with the development of COVID-19 vaccination sites.
Looser restrictions
The state could loosen restrictions and move to Phase 4 mitigation efforts in a littler over a week if cases continue trending down.
Pritzker said regions could move to Phase 4 by Jan. 15, one incubation period from New Years Day.
"We want to make sure we're keeping our infection rates as low as possible," Pritzker said.
Updates
When asked about the more contagious, but seemingly not more deadly, variant of the coronavirus Ezike said the B.1.1.7. strain has not yet been detected in Illinois, "but that doesn't mean it's not here."
Before taking questions from the press, Pritzker condemned US Congresswoman of the 15th Congressional District Mary Miller (R) who said "Hitler was right," during a speech at a rally in Washington D.C. Monday.
A Twitter user posted a video of the rally when Miller says, "Hitler was right about one thing. He said whoever has the youth has the future."
Pritzker said Miller should visit the Illinois Holocaust and Education Center if she was interested in history.
"I want to address the unfathomable and disgusting remarks the newest member of the Illinois Congressional Delegation made, Mary Miller," Pritkzer said.
"Let me be clear. Hitler got nothing right. This reprehensible rhetoric has no place in our politics. Illinois Republicans cannot allow this to stand and must condemn this vile, evil streak in their party."
Toward the end of the press conference, Pritzker noted he has not yet received the vaccine and that Illinois government workers will receive the vaccine when they are eligible in the distribution plan.
