The Breakdown of IL
UPDATE: As of February 27, 2021, all 11 regions in the state of Illinois are now in Phase 4.
Before we get into a post about Illinois treasures, I will explain how Illinois is handling Covid-19. So here in Illinois, the state is broken down into 11 different regions. To be clear, there are 5 Phases all together. These include: Tier 3, Tier 2, Tier 1, Phase 4, Phase 5 from best to worst case scenario. Here are the differences:
TIER 3 - Resurgence Mitigations
According to the Illinois Department of Public Heath, “This newer tier aims to limit gatherings and encourages people to stay home to the greatest extent possible, while permitting some industries to remain open at significantly reduced capacities with proper safety measures in place. All detailed Phase 4 operational guidance remains in effect. Where Phase 4 guidance and Tier 3 Mitigations imply different standards, the more restrictive Tier 3 Mitigations will apply.” The following mitigations for Tier 3 include:
Bars & Restaurants
All bars and restaurants close at 11pm and may reopen no earlier than 6am the following day
All indoor service is suspended
All bar and restaurant patrons should be seated at tables outside
Outdoor, delivery, and takeout service continued under updated hours
No ordering, seating, or congregating at bar (bar stools should be removed)
Tables should be 6 feet apart
No standing or congregating outdoors while waiting for a table or exiting
No dancing or standing indoors
No tables with more than 6 people
Reservations required for each party
No seating of multiple parties at one table
Indoor gaming terminals must suspend operations
Includes private clubs and country clubs
Cultural Institutions
Operations paused
Gaming & Casinos
Operations paused
Hotels
Limited to registered guests only
Fitness centers closed or operating on reservation model at 25% capacity
Grab and go food allowed
Event and meeting space closed
Limited to registered guests
Household Gatherings
Staying with household members is encouraged
Indoor Fitness Classes
Operations paused
Health and Fitness Centers
Operate at no more than 25% capacity
No indoor group classes
Face coverings must be worn at all times, including while engaged in individual exercise regardless of person or machine spacing
Reservations required
Locker room areas should be closed except as permitted by DCEO guidance
Meetings, Events, Gatherings (excluding in-person school or sports)
Limit in home gatherings to household members
No gatherings in meeting rooms, banquet halls, party rooms, private clubs, etc
No party buses
Funerals are limited to 10 family members of the decedents, not including staff
Offices
Remote work encouraged
Organized Group Recreational Activities (excluding in-person school or sports)
Gaming and casinos close
Indoor recreation centers, including theaters, performing arts centers and indoor
museums and amusement centers are closed
Live streaming of performances encouraged with social distancing of performers
and minimum operational staff
Outdoor sports and recreation, individual training allowed
Outdoor activities allowed at 25% capacity or less
Groups limited to 10 people
Reservations required for each guest for outdoor activities
TIER 2 - Resurgence Mitigations
With Tier 2, “Mitigations may be applied to regions that are experiencing a sustained resurgence of COVID-19 or regions that have been under more stringent Tier 3 mitigations but have not yet achieved metrics that allow for a resumption of either Tier 1 or Phase 4 Restore Illinois activities. If a region again experiences a sustained resurgence of COVID-19 with Tier 2 mitigations in place, a return to stricter measures may be necessary to curtail further spread” (Illinois Department of Public Health). Tier 2 mitigations are as followed:
Bars & Restaurants
All bars and restaurants close at 11pm and may reopen no earlier than 6am the following day
Indoor service suspended
All bar and restaurant patrons should be seated at tables outside
No ordering, seating, or congregating at bar (bar stools should be removed)
Tables should be 6 feet apart
No standing or congregating indoors or outdoors while waiting for a table or exiting
No dancing or standing indoorsOutdoor delivery and takeout service continues under updated hours
No tables exceeding 6 people
Reservations required for each party
No seating of multiple parties at one table
Includes private clubs and country clubs
Cultural Institutions
Open under Phase 4 rules
Gaming & Casinos
Open under Phase 4 rules from Illinois Gaming Board
Hotels
Limited to registered guests
Fitness centers closed or operating on reservation model at 25% capacity
Household Gatherings
Limited to 10 people is encouraged
Indoor Fitness Centers
Groups limited to 10, including fitness classes
Meetings, Events, and Gatherings (excluding in-person schools or sports)
Limit to 10 guests indoors and outdoors
Applicable to professional, cultural and social group gatherings
Not applicable to students participating in-person classroom learning or sports
This does not reduce the overall facility capacity dictated by general Phase 4 business guidance such as office, personal care, retail, etc.
Hotel room occupancy should be limited to registered guests only, with the maximum allowance being the number of individuals permissible per existing fire code for each applicable guest room
Hotel fitness centers should be closed, or operated only on a reservation model with capacity limited to 25% of the maximum occupancy for the room
No party buses
Offices
Open under Phase 4 rules
Organized Group Recreational Activities (fitness centers, sports, etc)
Limit to lesser of 25 guests or 25% overall capacity indoors or outdoors
No groups of more than 10, including fitness classes, but multiple groups are allowed if separated by impermeable barriers and within overall facility capacity limits
Sports follow measures in the All Sport Guidelines
Face coverings must be worn at all times in fitness centers, including while engaged in individual exercise regardless of person or machine spacing
TIER 1 - Resurgence Mitigation
The Illinois Department of Public Health states that, “Tier 1 mitigations may be applied to regions that are experiencing a sustained resurgence of COVID-19 or regions that have been under more stringent mitigations but have not yet achieved metrics that allow for a resumption of Phase 4 Restore Illinois activities. If a region again experiences a sustained resurgence of COVID-19 with Tier 1 mitigations in place, a return to stricter measures may be necessary to curtail further spread. Mitigations in Tier 1 include:
Bars & Restaurants
All bars and restaurants close at 11pm and may reopen no earlier than 6am the following day
Indoor service limited to lesser of 25% or 25 persons per room
Establishments offering indoor service must serve food
Indoor service reservations limited to 2-hour maximum duration and maximum 4 persons per party (dining only with members of the same household recommended)
Indoor service suspended, if not serving food
Outdoor, delivery and takeout continued under updated hours
All bar and restaurant patrons should be seated at tables
No ordering, seating, or congregating at bar (bar stools should be removed)
Tables should be 6 feet apart
No standing or congregating indoors or outdoors while waiting for a table or exiting
No dancing or standing indoors
Reservations required for each party
No seating of multiple parties at one table
Includes private clubs and country clubs
Cultural Institutions
Open under Phase 4 rules
Gaming & Casinos
Open under Phase 4 rules from Illinois Gaming Board
Hotels
Open under phase 4 rules
Household Gatherings
Allowed with public health guidelines
Indoor Fitness Classes
Open under Phase 4 rules
Meetings, Events, and Gatherings (excluding in-person schools or sports)
Limit to lesser of 25 guests or 25% overall capacity indoors and outdoors
Applicable to professional, cultural and social group gatherings
Not applicable to students participating in-person classroom learning, or sports
This does not reduce the overall facility capacity dictated by general Phase 4 business guidance such as office, personal care, retail, etc
No party buses
Office
Open under phase 4 rules
Organized Group Recreational Activities
Recreation, fitness centers and outdoor activities follow Phase 4 guidance
Sports follow measures on the All Sport Guidelines
Face coverings must be worn at all times in fitness centers, including while engaged in individual exercise regardless of person or machine spacing
PHASE 4 - Revitalization
All Industries
All employees who can work from home should continue to do so
Continue to wear face covering that covers nose and mouth, maintain social distance of 6 ft., and frequently wash hands
Continue employee health screenings upon entry into the workplace and mid-shift screenings for employees with shifts
Follow guidelines on capacity limits and group sizes (to be continually reassessed throughout Phase 4)
Film Production
Capacity limit of no more than 50% of sound stage/location occupancy
Crowd scenes should be limited to 50 people or fewer
All individuals should maintain 6 ft. of social distancing unless job duty cannot be performed without proximity (e.g. actors performing, hair, make- up, costumes)
One-time nasal swab for RT-PCR testing of all cast and crew should be obtained within 48 to 72 hours prior to the start of work on set or location
Craft services and catering should follow Restaurant and Bar guidelines
Live audiences permitted in line with Theatre/Performing Arts guidelines
Meetings and Social Gatherings
50 people or less
Multiple groups may meet in the same facility if they are socially distanced and in separate rooms
Groups should be static for duration of meeting or event. If event includes multiple sessions, participants should remain in one room, and speakers/ presenters should rotate between rooms or be digitally displayed (e.g. projected, livestreamed) in multiple rooms
Dance floors should remain closed
Food service should follow Restaurant and Bar guidelines
Travel
Should follow IDPH and CDC approved guidance
Healthcare
All health care providers are open
Education & Childcare
Preschool to 12th grade schools, higher education, all summer programs, and child care open with IDPH approved safety guidance
Indoor and Outdoor Recreation
Reopening select indoor recreation facilities (e.g., bowling alleys, skating rinks); indoor playgrounds and trampoline parks should remain closed
Indoor recreation to operate at lesser of 50 customers or 50% of facility capacity
Outdoor recreation allowing group sizes of up to 50, and permitting multiple groups given facilities have space to appropriately social distance and can limit interaction between groups
Activity stations should be spaced at least 6 ft. apart or limited in number to ensure social distancing
Shared equipment should be disinfected before and after each use
Clubhouses and other communal gathering places allowed to reopen • Concessions permitted with restrictions
Businesses
Non-Essential Businesses - All employees return to work. Employers are encouraged to provide accommodations for covid-19 vulnerable employees
Bars & Restaurants - Open with capacity limits
Personal Care Services & Health Clubs - All barbershops, salons, spas, health and fitness clubs open with capacity limits
Entertainment - Cinema & theaters open with capacity limits
Retail - Open with capacity limits
Health and Fitness
Capacity limit of no more than 50% occupancy
Group fitness classes of up to 50 people with at least 6 ft. social distancing between individuals permitted; multiple groups permitted given facilities have space to appropriately social distance and can limit interaction between groups
Workout stations and equipment should be 6 ft. apart without barriers or 3 ft. apart with impermeable barriers in between
For open gym spaces, have 1 employee per every 4,000 sq. ft. to monitor social distancing and sanitize equipment between use
Sanitize equipment before and after each individual use and sanitize locker rooms and showers at least every hour
Keep ancillary accommodations (e.g., saunas, hot tubs, steam rooms) closed, though childcare areas are permitted to reopen in line with DHFS childcare guidelines
Museums
Capacity limit of no more than 25% occupancy
Guided tours should be limited to 50 or fewer people per group
Audio tours are permitted, though equipment should be disinfected before and after individual use
Museums should have plan to limit congregation via advance ticket sales and timed ticketing
Concessions permitted with restrictions
Manufactoring
Employees must receive COVID training before returning to work
All employers should have a wellness screening program. Employers should conduct in-person COVID-19 screening of employees upon entry and a mid-shift screening if employee shift is greater than 5 hours
Stagger and space shifts, and designate shift entrances and exits (when possible) to minimize interactions of employees across unique shift groupings
Workstations should be disinfected between every shift and in between employee handoffs
In-person meetings of up to 50 people with social distancing permitted
PHASE 5 - Illinois Restored
All sectors of the economy reopen with businesses, schools, and recreation resuming normal operations with new safety guidance and procedures
Conventions, festivals and large events can take place
Meanwhile, here are the counties located within each of the 11 regions. For those who are not familiar with counties in Illinois, here are some landmarks, activities, or places to visit to help give you a sense of what region you are looking for.
REGION 1 - NORTH IL (Boone, Carroll, DeKalb, Jo Daviess, Lee, Ogle, Stephenson, Whiteside, Winnebago)
Northern Illinois University
Sycamore Speedway
Ulysses S. Grant Home
Ronald Reagan’s Boyhood Home
Ronald Reagan’s Birthplace
Six Flags Hurricane Harbor
REGION 2 - NORTH-CENTRAL IL (Bureau, Fulton, Grundy, Henderson, Henry, Kendall, Knox, LaSalle, Livingston, Marshall, McDonough, McLean, Mercer, Peoria, Putnam, Rock Island, Stark, Tazewell, Warren, Woodford)
Red Covered Bridge
Parlin Library
Two Cell Jail
Bishop Hill Historic Site
Raging Waves Waterpark
Galesburg Railroad Museum
Starved Rock State Park
Matthiessen State Park
Route 66 Associate of Illinois
Historic Route 66
Sprague’s Super Service Station
Ducan Manor
Ronald Reagan Museum
REGION 3 - WEST-CENTRAL IL (Adams, Brown, Calhoun, Cass, Christian, Greene, Hancock, Jersey, Logan, Macoupin, Mason, Menard, Montgomery, Morgan, Pike, Sangamon, Schuyler, Scott)
Villa Katherine
All Wars Museum
Carthage Jail
Soulsby Service Station
Henry’s Ra66it Ranch
Havana Water Tower
Dickson Mounds State Museum
Lincoln’s New Salem (restored village from Abe’s youth)
Abe Lincoln’s Home
Lincoln Monument
REGION 4 - METRO EAST IL (Bond, Clinton, Madison, Monroe, Randolph, St. Clair, Washington)
Lewis and Clark State Historic Site
Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site
1820 Colonel Benjamin Stephenson House
Peterstown House
Fort de Chartres State Historic Site
Pierre Menard Home State Historic Site
Modoc Rock Shelter National Historic Site
World’s Largest Catsup Bottle
Scott Field Heritage Air Park
National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows
REGION 5 - SOUTHERN IL (Alexander, Edwards, Franklin, Gallatin, Hamilton, Hardin, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnson, Marion, Massac, Perry, Pope, Pulaski, Saline, Union, Wabash, Wayne, White, Williamson)
Shawnee National Forest
Rim Rock Recreation Trail
Cave in Rock State Park
Castle Park
Mandala Gardens
Superman Statute
Sand Cave
Illinois Central Railroad Depot
Garden of the Gods
Trail of Tears State Forest
Robinson-Stewart House
REGION 6 - EAST-CENTRAL IL (Champaign, Clark, Clay, Coles, Crawford, Cumberland, De Witt, Douglas, Edgar, Effingham, Fayette, Ford, Iroquois, Jasper, Lawerence, Macon, Moultrie, Piatt, Richland, Shelby, Vermillion)
Krannert Art Museum
Hardy’s Reindeer Ranch
Spurlock Museum
World’s Largest Rocking Chair
World’s Largest Mailbox
World’s Largest Knitting Needles and Crochet Kit
World’s Largest Wind Chime
World’s Largest Golf Tee
World’s Largest Wooden Shoe
Lincoln Log Cabin State Historic Site
Hippie Memorial
The Cross at the Crossroads
Kaskaskia Dragon
Vandalia State House Memorial
Allerton Park and Retreat Center
Two Story Outhouse
REGION 7 - SOUTH SUBURBAN IL (Kankakee, Will)
B Harley Bradley House
Gemini Giant
Old Joliet Prison
REGION 8 - WEST SUBURBAN IL (DuPage, Kane)
The Morton Arboretum
Naper Settlement
Baps Shri Swanminarayan
Naperville Riverwalk
Robert R. McCormick House
Lilacia Park
Hindu Temple of Greater Chicago
Millenium Carillon
Grand Victoria Casino
Fabian Villa Museum & Japanese Garden
Sri Venksteswara Swami (Balaji) Temple
Elgin Historic District
REGION 9 - NORTH SUBURBAN IL (Lake, McHenry)
Six Flags Great America
Chain O’Lakes
Bettendorf Castle
Illinois Railroad Museum
REGION 10 - SUBURBAN COOK IL (Suburban Cook)
Medieval Times
Legoland Discovery Center
Woodfield Mall
Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center
Parkway Bank Park Entertainment Center
Leaning Tower of Niles
Baha’i House of Worship
Grosse Point Lighthouse
Winslow House - Frank Lloyd Wright
Brookfield Zoo
Tinley Park Oktoberfest
REGION 11 - CHICAGO IL (City of Chicago)
Water Tower Place
John Hancock Building
Willis Tower
North Avenue Beach
Grant Park
Maggie Daley Park
Lincoln Park Zoo
Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago
The Art Institute of Chicago
Museum of Science & Industry
National Museum of Mexican Art
Navy Pier
Magnificent Mile
Pilsen Murals
The Bean
Shedd Aquarium
Wrigley Field
Guaranteed Rate Field
Soldier Field
United Center
Tribune Tower
Drake Hotel
Buckingham Fountain
Chicago Botanical Garden
Now here are the regions separated by which phase they are currently in as of Monday, January 25, 2021:
Tier 3 - N/A
Tier 2 - N/A
Tier 1 - N/A
Phase 4 - All regions (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11)
Phase 5 - N/A
Here are some of the numbers for Covid-19 in Illinois as of Monday, January 15, 2021:
Vaccines Administered =>
Total Cases => 1,104,763
Confirmed Deaths => 18,798 :((
Probable Deaths => 1,946 :(
Total Tests Performed => 15,484,034
Recovery Rate => 98%
Meanwhile, if you are looking for more information on Illinois and how the state handles Covid-19, you can find more information at https://www.dph.illinois.gov/covid19.
Thank you for reading!!
