Chicago Sun-Times (Sunday)

WILL ILLINOIS SHUT DOWN AGAIN?

- By Andy Boyle and Caroline Hurley

For daily updates, visit graphics.suntimes.com/covid-19/restore-illinois: On July 15, Gov. J.B. Pritzker unveiled a new plan to slow the spread of COVID-19 by splitting up the state into 11 regions, instead of the four outlined in his original Restore Illinois plan. The changes aim to take a more granular approach in case of a coronaviru­s resurgence, targeting smaller areas than the original plan. If a region surpasses certain thresholds, officials can tighten restrictio­ns from the “menu” of options outlined in the new tiered system. Informatio­n about each tier is below, along with data to show how close each of the 11 regions are to implementi­ng additional coronaviru­s restrictio­ns.

KEY POINTS OF VIRUS RESTRICTIO­N TIERS: Tier 1

• Bars and restaurant­s: Reduce indoor dining capacity and suspend indoor bar service.

• Hospitals: Reduce elective surgeries and procedures; limit visitation­s at hospitals.

• Meetings, social events and religious gatherings: More limits on gatherings and room capacity.

• Retail, organized group recreation­al activities and gyms: Reduce indoor capacity.

Tier 2

• Bars and restaurant­s: Suspend indoor dining and bar service.

• Hospitals: Suspend elective surgeries and procedures.

• Organized group recreation­al activities and gyms: Suspend organized indoor recreation­al activities.

• Retail: Suspend in-person non-essential retail; online and curbside pickup available for all.

Tier 3

• Bars and restaurant­s: Suspend in-person dining; takeout only.

• Offices: Remote work for all non-essential workers.

• Organized group recreation­al activities and gyms: Suspend organized indoor and outdoor recreation­al activities.

• Retail: Only essential retail open, such as grocery stores and pharmacies.

• Salons and personal care: Suspend operations.

WHAT COULD CAUSE A REGION TO BECOME MORE RESTRICTIV­E?

• The three-day rolling average positivity rate surpasses 8%.

• OR IF the seven-day rolling average positivity rate increases for seven out of the past 10 days AND one of the following three data points are met:

• The number of hospital admissions for COVID-like illness increases for seven days in a row.

• The percentage of medical surge hospital beds falls below 20%.

• The percentage of ICU hospital beds falls below 20%.

✔ REGION 11 (CHICAGO)

Does not meet criteria to add restrictiv­e measures. 4.6%

Positivity percentage: A 7-day rolling average of the total confirmed cases divided by the total tests completed.

2 days

Increasing test positivity: Number of days out of the past 10 when the rolling 7-day average of test positivity has increased.

3 days

Increasing hospital admissions:

Number of days out of the past 10 when hospital admissions for COVID-like illness has increased.

22%

Medical surge availabili­ty: The 3-day rolling average of percentage of hospital beds available.

31%

ICU bed availabili­ty: The 3-day rolling average of percentage of ICU beds available.

✔ REGION 10 (Suburban Cook)

Does not meet criteria to add restrictiv­e measures

• Positivity percentage: 4.4%

• Increasing test positivity: 2 days

• Increasing hospital admissions: 2 days

• Medical surge availabili­ty: 24%

• ICU bed availabili­ty:31%

✔ REGION 9 (Lake, McHenry)

Does not meet criteria to add restrictiv­e measures

• Positivity percentage: 4.9%

• Increasing test positivity: 1 day

• Increasing hospital admissions: 2 days

• Medical surge availabili­ty: 37%

• ICU bed availabili­ty: 47%

✔ REGION 8 (DuPage, Kane)

Does not meet criteria to add restrictiv­e measures

• Positivity percentage: 5.3%

• Increasing test positivity: 2 days

• Increasing hospital admissions: 3 days

• Medical surge availabili­ty: 27%

• ICU bed availabili­ty: 38%

✔ REGION 7 (Will, Kankakee)

Does not meet criteria to add restrictiv­e measures

• Positivity percentage: 5.5%

• Increasing test positivity: 2 days

• Increasing hospital admissions: 3 days

• Medical surge availabili­ty: 26%

• ICU bed availabili­ty: 32%

✔ REGION 6

Does not meet criteria to add restrictiv­e measures

• Positivity percentage: 2.4%

• Increasing test positivity: 3 days

• Increasing hospital admissions: 4 days

• Medical surge availabili­ty: 32%

• ICU bed availabili­ty: 35%

✔ REGION 5

Does not meet criteria to add restrictiv­e measures

• Positivity percentage: 6.2%

• Increasing test positivity: 4 days

• Increasing hospital admissions: 2 days

• Medical surge availabili­ty: 48%

• ICU bed availabili­ty: 64%

✔ REGION 4

Does not meet criteria to add restrictiv­e measures

• Positivity percentage: 6.9%

• Increasing test positivity: 0 days

• Increasing hospital admissions: 1 day

• Medical surge availabili­ty: 40%

• ICU bed availabili­ty: 54%

✔ REGION 3

Does not meet criteria to add restrictiv­e measures

• Positivity percentage: 5.1%

• Increasing test positivity: 4 days

• Increasing hospital admissions: 1 day

• Medical surge availabili­ty: 33%

• ICU bed availabili­ty: 38%

✔ REGION 2 Does not meet criteria to add restrictiv­e measures

• Positivity percentage: 5.4%

• Increasing test positivity: 1 day

• Increasing hospital admissions: 2 days

• Medical surge availabili­ty: 39%

• ICU bed availabili­ty: 40%

✔ REGION 1

Does not meet criteria to add restrictiv­e measures

• Positivity percentage: 7.7%

• Increasing test positivity: 7 days

• Increasing hospital admissions: 3 days

• Medical surge availabili­ty: 37%

• ICU bed availabili­ty: 48%

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