To:

Chemical Industry Council of Illinois (CICI) Members

From:

Mark Biel, Chief Executive Officer
[email protected] or 217/522-5805 

Re:

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update – Additional Restrictions Re-Imposed On Several Regions (Including DuPage, Will, Kane and Kankakee Counties) Restrictions Increased; Positivity Rates Increase Across the State with Numerous Counties at Warning Level; Update on COVID-19 Cases 

Several Regions under Increased Restrictions: Governor Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) announced today that increased restrictions will be implemented for Region 5 (Marion, Jefferson, Wayne, Edwards, Wabash, Perry, Jackson, Franklin, Williamson, Saline, Hamilton, White, Gallatin, Union, Johnson, Pope, Hardin, Alexander, Massac, and Pulaski Counties), beginning this Thursday, October 22.  In addition, Region 7 (Kankakee and Will Counties), and Region 8 (DuPage and Kane Counties) will also face these additional restrictions this Friday, October 23.  Region 1 (Northwestern Illinois) has been under these additional restrictions since October 3.  

These regions are seeing a 7-day rolling average test positivity rate of 8% or above for three consecutive days, which exceeds the threshold set for establishing mitigation measures in the region under the state’s revamped Phase 4 plan.  You can see where the various regions are at in terms of their positivity rates, hospitalizations and other metrics at this link.   

In addition to face covering, social distancing, and hand washing requirements, these mitigation efforts include the following measures which will remain in effect over a 14-day period after which, more stringent mitigation measures will be implemented if the region’s positivity rate does not improve.

For bars:

  • All bars close at 11:00pm
  • No indoor service
  • All bar 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 indoors
  • Reservations required for each party
  • No seating of multiple parties at one table

For restaurants:

  • All restaurants close at 11:00pm
  • No indoor dining or bar service
  • Tables should be 6 feet apart
  • No standing or congregating indoors or outdoors while waiting for a table or exiting
  • Reservations required for each party
  • No seating of multiple parties at one table

For meetings, social events and gatherings:

  • Limit to lesser of 25 guests or 25% of overall room capacity
  • No party buses
  • Gaming and Casinos close at 11:00pm, are limited to 25 percent capacity, and follow          mitigations for bars and restaurants

It should be noted, however, these increased mitigation efforts will not include classrooms where applicable.

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) will track the positivity rate in Region 5 to determine if mitigations can be relaxed, if additional mitigations are required, or if current mitigation should remain in place. If the positivity rate averages less than or equal to 6.5 percent over a 14-day period, the region will return to Phase 4.  If the positivity rate averages between 6.5 percent and 8 percent, IDPH will continue to monitor the region to determine if additional mitigations are needed. If the positivity rate averages greater than or equal to 8 percent after 14 days, more stringent mitigations will be applied to further reduce spread of the virus, which can include the closure of indoor bars and dining.

A full list of mitigation measures pertaining to some businesses and industries may also be found on the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) website at DCEO COVID-19 resources

Positivity Rates Increase Across the State with Numerous Counties at Warning Level: In addition to the increased restrictions noted above for Region 1, 5, 7, and 8, Governor Pritzker announced today that the entire state is seeing a surge in its positivity rate.  Of the state’s 7 regions which are not under additional restrictions, five regions have a rolling average positivity rate at or above 7 percent, while two regions are at 6.5 percent.  The seven-day rolling average of Illinois’ positivity rate is now at 5.5%, more than double what the rate was when the state moved to Phase 4 in July. As of yesterday, the state had 2,261 people hospitalized with COVID-19. Of those hospitalized, 489 patients were in the ICU and 195 patients with COVID-19 were on ventilators. This is the highest number of COVID-19 patients in the ICU since June 18.

And just today, Governor Pritzker warned that the following counties have also been issued a similar warning that its positivity is climbing and could see, if not already under, increased restrictions as well: Adams, Alexander, Boone, Cass, Christian, Clay, Clinton, Crawford, DeKalb, DeWitt, Jasper, Jefferson, Jo Daviess, Johnson, Kane, Lee, Macon, McDonough, McHenry Mercer, Monroe, Pike, Pulaski, Randolph, Saline, Stephenson, Union, Vermilion, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Whiteside, Will, and Winnebago.

Update on COVID-19 Cases: IDPH is reporting 350,875 positive tests of COVID-19 in Illinois, an average increase of 3,675 new positive tests per day since reported here 4 days ago on October 16.  In total, 6,883,314 tests have now been conducted in Illinois for the virus, an average increase of 66,136 tests per day since October 16.  The state’s average positivity rate over all 11 regions is at 5.5%.  You can see where the various regions are at in terms of their positivity rates, hospitalizations and other metrics at this link

Unfortunately, IDPH is reporting a total of 9,277 deaths, an average increase of 83 per day since October 16.

You can also check where these cases are occurring at the State of Illinois COVID-19 website which also contains more information on this outbreak.

Also, IDPH has a case breakdown of the number of positive cases in Chicago and each county relative to the number of fatalities.  The IDPH website also now includes a breakdown of the cases under each zip code in the state.

For information on other states and countries, John Hopkins University has developed this website that provides invaluable resources at a one-stop location detailing testing and tracing trends, timelines of COVID-19 policies, and interactive maps.

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