No new coronavirus restrictions for southwestern Illinois as region nears deadline
The metro-east won’t see any new coronavirus restrictions this week as it reaches a deadline for reevaluation, but current restrictions won’t be lifted either, local officials said Tuesday afternoon.
Wednesday marks two weeks since restrictions, including a ban on indoor service at bars and restaurants, were imposed in the southwestern Illinois region, which includes St. Clair, Madison, Bond, Monroe, Randolph, Clinton and Washington counties.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s office told local elected leaders about their decision in a call Tuesday, said St. Clair County Chairman Mark Kern.
“The state shared with us that while they thought our numbers were looking better that they were still going to keep monitoring us,” Kern said. “But for now there will be no additional mitigations put on our local businesses, which we think is good news.”
The percentage of COVID-19 tests coming back positive in the metro-east dropped for the fourth consecutive day on Monday. The state reported the region’s rolling seven-day average positivity rate fell to 9.4%, down from 9.6% on Sunday.
If the state sees a spike over the next 14 days, the state can add restrictions, said St. Clair County Emergency Management Agency Director Herb Simmons.
According to the state’s coronavirus resurgence plan, public health officials will track metrics in the region for another two weeks before deciding whether to lift, maintain or heighten restrictions. A region has to show 6.5% test positivity or below for two weeks before it moves back to Phase 4 of Illinois’ reopening plan, which allows indoor dining with some limitations.
Under Phase 4, masks or face coverings are required throughout the state in public places where it’s not possible to maintain 6 feet of distance from others. Gatherings are limited to 50 people or less statewide.
Businesses plead with Pritzker
Local chambers of commerce and business owners have urged the governor to lift or soften rules, but he has declined to do so, saying the economy cannot thrive until the virus is under control.
Pritzker on Tuesday announced a second round of grants to help small businesses recover, or survive, economic losses due to COVID-19. The first round of Business Interruption Grants, or BIG program, promised a $49 million boost for businesses throughout the state. The second round will release $220 million to businesses.
“Our state legislators ... were on the call and they were all advocating for a special eye towards this region specifically as a target for those dollars because our businesses have been impacted here more than in other places,” Kern said.
At least $100 million of the grants will go toward downstate and rural Illinois communities, and applications from businesses in regions under resurgence mitigations will be favored, according to a news release from Pritzker’s office.
Applications for the BIG program will be available starting Thursday afternoon on the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity’s website at illinois.gov/dceo.
Here are the current restrictions in the metro-east.
This story was originally published September 15, 2020 at 1:33 PM.
