COVID-19 Update: Governor Announces

Posted March 18, 2021 in Legislative briefs

The Illinois Department of Public Health’s (IDPH) press release announcing their daily test data is available via this link. Preliminary seven-day statewide positivity for cases as a percent of total tests from March 11 through March 17 is now 2.4%. The preliminary seven-day statewide test positivity from March 11 through March 17 is 2.7%. Cases by county can be found on the state’s coronavirus website at coronavirus.illinois.gov.

As of today, the State of Illinois has administered more than 4.3 million doses of COVID-19 vaccinations. There are approximately 12.6 million residents of Illinois. Currently, approximately 58% of Illinois residents age 65 and older have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. For residents age 16 and older, approximately 28% have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

Today, Governor JB Pritzker announced the creation of a “Bridge” transition period from Phase 4 to Phase 5. More information about that announcement is available in his press release via this link. When 70% of the state’s 65 and older population has received at least one dose of a vaccine, Illinois will move into the “Bridge” transition period.

The “Bridge” transition period restrictions are available via this link.

After a 28-day monitoring of the “Bridge” transition period, the state will be eligible to move into Phase 5, as long as 50% or more of Illinois residents, 16 and older, have received at least one dose of a vaccine. Phase 5 will remove capacity restrictions and other regulations in place under previous mitigations and during the “Bridge” transition period. The Governor’s presentation slides from today's press conference are available via this link.

That means that if the state keeps on pace with vaccinations, community events, festivals and parades will be allowed to...click here to keep reading.