Illinois now has the lowest infection rates among all our neighboring states and one of the lowest positivity rates in the country — but this virus hasn't gone away.
Here's our plan to preserve the progress we've made: www2.illinois.gov/Pages/news-ite…
Here's our plan to preserve the progress we've made: www2.illinois.gov/Pages/news-ite…
Unlike in late February, we now have significantly greater ability to test, trace & limit the spread of #covid19:
➡️ More than 33,000 tests per day, a record weekly average
➡️ Triple the number of contact tracers
➡️ 3% average positivity rate, down from a peak above 23%
➡️ More than 33,000 tests per day, a record weekly average
➡️ Triple the number of contact tracers
➡️ 3% average positivity rate, down from a peak above 23%
Illinoisans worked hard to get our numbers down so that we could build back some aspects of everyday life — and now many are wondering what’s next.
So today, I'm outlining the path ahead and making sure we all know what will cause us to impose further mitigations.
So today, I'm outlining the path ahead and making sure we all know what will cause us to impose further mitigations.
When trends indicate a potential problem ahead, we need to start tightening restrictions in a region – before it’s too late.
Staying under these metrics will allow us to continue ahead in Phase 4 without having to take significant mitigation steps.
Staying under these metrics will allow us to continue ahead in Phase 4 without having to take significant mitigation steps.
Unlike when we introduced the Restore Illinois plan at the beginning of May, our growth in testing and tracing has given us a much more surgical ability to manage outbreaks and address problems locally – so going forward, we will monitor & measure progress in 11 separate regions.
Our plan lays out an array of strategies that can be applied if a region breaches the resurgence metrics.
In each category, we have three tiers of mitigations, allowing us to move carefully, but deliberately, to control the virus while keeping a region as open as possible.
In each category, we have three tiers of mitigations, allowing us to move carefully, but deliberately, to control the virus while keeping a region as open as possible.
The degree to which communities can mitigate risk and restore more normalcy to daily life in the months ahead is – to a large extent – in the hands of the people of our state.
Let’s keep doing what's working:
216 studies collectively confirm that masks and distancing bring down transmission rates and the risk of infection.
So follow Dr. Ezike’s three W’s: wear your mask, watch your distance, and wash your hands.
216 studies collectively confirm that masks and distancing bring down transmission rates and the risk of infection.
So follow Dr. Ezike’s three W’s: wear your mask, watch your distance, and wash your hands.
We’ve seen some success, however relative, while other states are seeing surges – because the people of this state show up for each other, for our doctors and nurses on the front lines, and for your community, time and time again.
That should give us all great pride in Illinois.
That should give us all great pride in Illinois.
