SPRINGFIELD – Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced new modifications to Phase 3 of the Restore Illinois plan Wednesday that will allow more activity and businesses to re-open. He says all regions in Illinois are on track to reach Phase 3 by the end of May.
The Phase 3 modifications will allow outdoor seating for bars and restaurants, as well as indoor and outdoor tennis facilities, among other changes for outdoor recreation.
The decision to allow some flexibility to the plan come after Illinois has seen an improvement in the outlook for COVID-19 hospitalizations and cases, Pritzker says. According to Dr. Ngozi Ezike, as of Wednesday Illinois has seen a decrease in the numbers of people hospitalized, as well as in the numbers of people in the ICU and on ventilators.
“We are by no means out of the woods, but directionally, things are getting better,” Pritzker said in a statement. “And because of these advances, we are able to make some modifications to allow more activity during Phase 3.”
Even though businesses will slowly be permitted to re-open in phases, social distancing standards and precautions—and innovations to accompany social distancing—will likely become the new normal moving forward, says Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Administrator Julie Pryde, who was present at the briefing.
Find the full list of modifications here:
BARS AND RESTAURANTS
- Outdoor seating in bars and restaurants will be allowed starting in Phase 3, under public health and social distancing guidelines.
- Tables must remain six feet apart and away from sidewalks, and restaurant and bar staff members will be required to wear masks and maintain social distancing standards. According to the Illinois Department of Health (IDPH), further guidelines will be issued in the coming days.
- Indoor food areas won’t be allowed to re-open until Phase 4 of the Restore Illinois plan, likely not until the end of June at the earliest.
OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
- All state parks and concessions will be allowed to re-open in Phase 3, with social distancing and public health guidelines.
- Indoor and outdoor tennis facilities will also be allowed to re-open with capacity limits.
- Golfers will be allowed to play in groups of four rather than two, and carts will also be permitted on golf courses with one person, or one immediate household, per cart.
- In Phase 3, groups of ten people or less are allowed to gather. This extends to activities like boating and camping.
- According to IDPH, further details and guidelines on other outdoor activities allowed to re-open in Phase 3—like shooting ranges, driving ranges and paintball courses—will be issued in the coming days.
PERSONAL CARE SERVICES, RETAIL AND GYMS
- Personal care services, including nail salons, barbershops, spas, hair braiders and tattoo shops will be permitted to re-open in Phase 3, with public health guidelines and capacity limits.
- Retail stores will be allowed to re-open to in-person shopping, though they will need to follow capacity limit guidelines.
- Gyms and fitness/health clubs will be allowed to re-open for outdoor classes of ten people or less, as well as for one-on-one personal training in indoor facilities.
