What happens when/if we move to Phase 3 on May 29?

By Jeff Lampe

While a group of Peoria-area politicians would like to speed up the process of reopening the local economy, most signs point to a more gradual May 29 reopening of the economy for The Prairie News area.

Under Gov. JB Pritzker’s Restore Illinois plan, the state is divided into four regions. Our area is in the 27-county North Central Region, which includes Peoria, Knox, Stark and Fulton counties.

The Restore Illinois plan also created five phases of restoration. Since May 1, we have operated under Phase 2. Certain health metrics must be met for a region to advance to the next phase.

Pritzker said Tuesday that all of Illinois is “on track” to progress into Phase 3 on May 29 – even though Stark County recently reported its second confirmed COVID-19 case. But Pritzker has refused to consider a proposed Heart of Illinois sub-region reopening plan announced last week for 11 counties that would hasten that shift.

Instead, Pritzker had submitted an emergency rule that would make it a class A misdemeanor for a business to violate his stay-at-home order. That was one of many issues being discussed Wednesday and Thursday in Springfield as the Legislature held a special session.

Pritzker withdrew his emergency rule Wednesday afternoon after strong opposition was voiced.

The House Republicans were expected to call for a vote on Pritzker’s reopening plan.

Chances of the latter happening, however, appeared slim at press time. So, facing possible legal and funding issues, let’s make the assumption that most will heed Pritzker’s plan.

Through May 18, the North Central Region – which includes Stark, Knox, Marshall and Peoria counties – had a positivity rate of 7 percent, declining percentages of cases and hospital admissions since May 1 and an average availability of 41.8 percent of medical/surgical beds, 44.8 percent of ICU beds and 62.3 percent of ventilators. Those numbers all meet the threshold for Phase 3.

What will that mean?
Highlights under Phase 3 are:
• The reopening of offices, salons, barber shops and retail stores. These businesses will operate with capacity limits and some other restrictions in place – including continued requirements for face coverings and social distancing practices.
• Gatherings of up to 10 people would be allowed.
• Some parks and libraries could open and limited child care and summer programs would be allowed with still-to-be determined guidance from the Illinois Department of Public Health.
• Health clubs could open for outdoor classes and one-on-one training.
• Non-essential manufacturing could resume if social distancing is possible in the workplace.

The downside is that bars, restaurants, movie theaters and health clubs would remain closed until Phase 4. Summer festivals and large gatherings are still pushed back into Phase 5 – which will likely be reached only after a vaccine is available, much to the dismay of the growing number of business owners, cities and counties filing suit against Pritzker.

Locally, libraries are drawing up their own plans for the change in phases. Some, like Wyoming Public Library, are starting to offer curbside pickup of books and other materials.

Retail stores are also devising their own plans for the change in phases, and are still receiving guidance from IDPH on how best to meet the various COVID-19 restrictions once their stores open.

So, the best bet before planning a shopping spree after May 29 is to call to make sure a business is open.