Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker has released more details about what the Phase 5 re-opening on June 11 will mean for Illinois citizens.
In a Friday, June 4 press release, the Pritzker administration says that all business and industry will be able to re-open in full capacity.
High-traffic places like businesses, large-scale events, conventions, amusement parks, and seated-spectator venues will be able to operate without capacity restrictions for the first time since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Additionally, the state is removing outdoor mask requirements for schools, following CDC guidance.
The Pritzker administration says that it was able to release the restrictions due to several key COVID-19 metrics aligning, namely the less-than 2 percent virus positivity rate, more 50% of the population being fully vaccinated, and other key metrics in state hospitals.
Come June 11, fully-vaccinated people can resume normal activity without needing to wear a mask, except for where it is still required by remaining federal, state, or local guidelines, such a public transportation, congregated areas, daycares, and schools.
Officials still recommended that unvaccinated individuals continue normal mask-wearing.
“After a tremendously challenging year, Illinois has now reached a defining moment in our efforts to defeat COVID-19,” Pritzker said. “Thanks to the hard work of residents across the state, Illinois will soon resume life as we knew it before – returning to events, gatherings, and a fully reopened economy, with some of the safety guidelines we’ve adopted still in place. As we fully reopen, this administration remains laser focused on ensuring a strong recovery for our small businesses and communities. Our FY22 budget invests $1.5 billion in small business relief, tourism, job-creating capital projects and more and we look forward to getting these dollars to communities across our state as quickly as possible.”
