SPRINGFIELD (WSIL) -- Illinois Governor JB Pritzker says more restrictions are needed to the spread of COVID-19 across the state. He says these steps could save thousands of lives.
This latest round of mitigations aims to limit gatherings and encourages residents to stay home as much as possible and follow proper safety measures when out in public. The mitigations carefully balance the paramount goal of saving lives while preserving the option for in-person learning for children and protecting as much of the economy as possible from the continued impacts of the virus.
You can read the Tier 3 mitigations .
The Tier 3 resurgence mitigations will take effect statewide at 12:01 am on Friday, November 20, 2020.
鈥淭o stop this spread and preserve some semblance of the holidays, all of us need to do more than just wear our masks now 鈥� though masks are mandatory throughout the state. The simple fact is that COVID-19 is spreading so quickly and so widely, and our hospitals are beginning to experience real strain and at the current infection rate they will be overwhelmed. So whenever possible, we need you to stay home,鈥澛爏aid Governor JB Pritzker.聽鈥淚鈥檓 hopeful that by limiting our in-person interactions, we will succeed at avoiding a stay at home order like what we had in the spring 鈥� when the choice between saving lives and saving livelihoods was even more stark. Tier 3 may allow us to do both. Like in other states like Michigan and California and Washington, it鈥檚 our best effort to avoid a stay-at-home order and save lives.鈥�
Gov. Pritzker says this is "not a stay at home order." But says the mitigations are the best way to slow the spread and avoid one.
鈥淭here is no denying that the state is headed in the wrong direction with increased cases, hospitalizations, and deaths,鈥澛爏aid IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike. 鈥淭here also is no denying that reducing the opportunities for the virus to spread can reverse our direction.聽 This includes staying home as much as possible, wearing a mask and keeping social distance when we do have to go out, and not gathering with people outside our households.聽 Until a vaccine is widely available and people understand the importance of being vaccinated, we must continue to take preventive actions to stop the transmission of the virus.聽 Right now, our preventive actions are the best way to prevent new cases, hospitalizations, and deaths.鈥�
According to a release from the Governor's Office:
While this latest round of mitigations does not include a stay at home order, if the mitigations are not adhered to and cases continue to rise in the weeks ahead, another order may be required. For all regions, additional mitigation measures taking effect Friday, November 20th聽include guidance for the following settings and industries:
- Retail
- Personal Care Services
- Health and Fitness Centers
- Hotels
- Manufacturing
- Bars and Restaurants
- Meetings and Social Events
- Offices
- Organized Group Recreational Activities
- Indoor Recreation, Theater, Cultural Institutions
As they have since the start of COVID-19, grocery stores across the state will remain open and available. Child care facilities may continue to operate subject聽聽from the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. School districts and officials should continue to follow the聽聽released by the Illinois State Board of Education in August to make decisions related to in-person and remote learning at the local level.
The Illinois High School Association issued a statement after the governor's comments today.
IHSA Executive Director Craig Anderson:
鈥淭he Illinois High School Association (IHSA) recognizes that today鈥檚 announcement by Governor Pritzker will temporarily pause the IHSA鈥檚 winter sports season. We remain optimistic that these new mitigations, coupled with the emergence of a vaccine, will aid in creating participation opportunities in the New Year for IHSA student-athletes in winter, spring, and summer sports. The IHSA Board of Directors will meet as scheduled on November 19, 2020, to continue plotting out potential paths for IHSA sport and activity participation through the remainder of the school year. Although representatives from the Governor鈥檚 office and the Illinois Department of Public Health will be unable to attend the meeting, today鈥檚 updated guidance from Governor Pritzker will aid the Board鈥檚 decision-making. We have asked Deputy Governor Ruiz and Dr. Ezike to engage with us in the near future, so that we can collaborate on developing a plan to safely conduct IHSA sports and activities as soon as possible. IHSA schools have been exemplary in adhering to state regulations throughout this pandemic and we hope that non-school programs will hold themselves to the same standard as we all put the long-term health and safety of our fellow citizens ahead of short-term athletic competition.鈥�
