Here’s what happens if new restrictions to slow COVID spread in southwest IL don’t work
Starting Tuesday, the metro-east region faces tighter restrictions from the state to fight the spread of COVID-19.
What happens if they don’t work?
The following Q and A is based on current information from the Illinois Department of Public Health:
How many days does the region have to lower the rate of positive cases?
The Illinois Department of Public Health will track the rate of positive COVID-19 tests in the metro-east for the next 14 days to determine whether to ease restrictions, add more restrictions, or keep current restrictions in place. The metro-east, also known as Region 4, includes St. Clair, Madison, Monroe, Randolph, Clinton, Bond and Washington counties.
The state implemented the latest restrictions Tuesday because the region’s 7-day rolling average of positive coronavirus tests was over 8% for three days in a row, surpassing a threshold put in place by the Illinois Department of Public Health.
What happens if the rate of positive coronavirus tests doesn’t decrease?
If the rate of positive cases in the region still averages greater or equal to 8% after 14 days, the state says “more stringent” restrictions could be applied to help halt the spread of COVID-19. The daily positive rate average can be found on the Illinois Department of Public Health website.
A sustained increase in hospital admissions or a reduction in hospital capacity that could threaten capabilities to handle a surge could play into the state’s decision to implement further restrictions, according to state health officials.
What happens if the positivity rate stays the same or decreases after 14 days?
If the rate of positive tests averages less than or equal to 6.5 percent over a 14-day period, the region could return to fewer restrictions.
Phase 4 restrictions originally allowed gatherings of 50 people or fewer, the reopening of restaurants and bars and reopening of childcare and schools. All of which comes with social distancing and mask-wearing as a “norm,” according to the Illinois Department of Public Health.
The agency has not outlined what a return to Phase 4 would entail as of yet.
If the positive rate averages 6.5% and 8% during that time, the state will continue monitoring the region to determine whether new restrictions are needed.
What restrictions go into place Tuesday?
Starting Tuesday, there are new restrictions for bars, restaurants, meetings, social events and gatherings and organized group recreational activities.
Bars & Restaurants
New rules include: All bars will close at 11 p.m.; no ordering, seating or congregating will be allowed at bars (bars stool are being asked to be removed by the state); patrons must be seated at tables inside and outside; tables should be reduced to six people or less and spaced six feet apart.
In addition, the state is asking bars to ban loitering while waiting for a table or leaving, not allow dancing and require reservations.
The state is asking restaurants to apply nearly identical rules, and if a restaurant has a bar, bar rules apply.
Meetings, social events and gatherings
Under the new restrictions, social gatherings, meetings and events will be limited to 25 guests or fewer or 25 percent of a room’s total capacity. All reception halls must be closed; party buses should not run; and gaming machines and casinos must close at 11 p.m. and are limited to 25 percent capacity.
What could increased restrictions look like if COVID spread continues in the region?
The metro-east is currently at the Illinois Department of Public Health’s first tier of COVID-19 mitigation efforts. If the seven-day average of positive tests remains at 8% or climbs, the metro-east could enter the state’s second tier of restrictions.
Tier 2
The second tier would suspend indoor dining and bar service, suspend all elective surgeries and procedures at hospitals and implement surge capacity rules throughout the region while assessing the need to open alternate care facilities to handle an overflow of patients with medical needs.
Surge capacity refers to hospitals’ ability to evaluate and care for a large increase of patients. An alternative care facility would be a temporary structure either newly erected or converted for healthcare use, according to state health officials.
The second tier would also implement additional limits on gatherings and room capacity. It would ask organizations and businesses to reduce office capacity and recommend that remote work resume, where possible. Guidelines would also have retail businesses suspend in-person, non-essential retail sales and make online and curbside pickup available for all.
Salons and other personal care could be shut down if an outbreak is tied to individual businesses, according to the state health department.
For recreational activities and gyms, organized indoor recreational activities would be suspended.
Tier 3
The third tier of restrictions could include further suspension of in-person dining, the opening of an Alternate Care Facility, implementation of the “strictest limit” to gatherings and room capacity.
Throughout the tier three rules, few specifics are given in each category and the Illinois Department of Public Health said rules can differ per region, based on the “on-the-ground condition.”
State health department guidelines would also require remote work for all non-essential workers, and retail outlets would be asked to suspend all non-essential retail with only essential retailers (pharmacies, grocery stores) remaining open.
Indoor and outdoor recreational activities and salon and personal care operations also would be suspended
Where can I get detailed COVID-19 statistics for the metro-east?
The Belleville News-Democrat posts daily updates on COVID-19 statistics for Region 4 and surrounding area counties in a daily article, with graphics, that provides information on new cases and deaths, positivity rate averages for the region and certain counties and data on virus trends in the area.
The Illinois Department of Public Health’s website also has a detailed rundown on the region’s statistics that can be found at www.dph.illinois.gov/regionmetric
This story was originally published August 17, 2020 at 12:40 PM.