The positivity rate for COVID-19 dropped in the North Central Region on Saturday as the area remained on track to enter Phase 3 of Gov. JB Pritzker’s Restore Illinois plan, according to information released by the Illinois Department of Public Health.
The positivity rate in the region, which includes La Salle, Bureau, Lee, Whiteside and DeKalb counties, among others, dipped to 6.2% after coming in 0.6 points higher on Friday. The overall positivity rate has dropped 2.5% over the past 14 days.
Hospital admissions in the regions have dropped 27.6% since May 1. Medical and surgical beds are at 39.3%, and ICU bed availability is at 40.6% with ventilators available at a 59.2% rate.
The region must stay below 20% positivity and not see more than a 10% increase over any 14-day period. It has met that criteria and the region is on its way to move to Phase 3, expected to begin at the end of the day May 29.
In a Wednesday announcement, Pritzker amended his Phase 3 guidelines significantly, making allowances for restaurants and bars to reopen as long as they offer outdoor seating only, with tables and chairs six feet apart and off the sidewalk. Including the new changes, Phase 3 would allow for campgrounds and boating in groups of 10 or fewer, and retail, barbershops and salons, and non-essential businesses and manufacturing to reopen under guidelines.
Recreational amendments were made to Phase 3 as well Wednesday.
Foursomes and carts for golfing will also be allowed as of Wednesday, and health clubs, gym and fitness studios can implement one-on-one training or outdoor fitness courses in groups of 10 or fewer. And all state parks will reopen, along with indoor and outdoor tennis facilities.
In order to move to Phase 4, the region will have to stay at or under a 20% positivity rate and increase no more than 10% over a 14-day period; have no overall increase in hospital admissions for COVID-19-like illness for 28 days; maintain an available surge capacity of at least 14% of ICU beds, medical and surgical beds, and ventilators; have testing available in the region regardless of symptoms or risk factors; and be able to trace and monitor within 24 hours of diagnosis for more than 90% of cases in the region.
Source: The Daily Chronicle
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