Moving into Phase 4 for the State of Illinois is a type of “thank you” from the governor’s office that comes with relief and the hope of normalcy. In the governor’s message on Illinois moving into Phase 4, JB. Pritzker said he looked at the data provided by the Illinois Department of Public Health.
“On a statewide level, Illinois flattened the curve, passed the peak, and saw a sustained decline in key metrics since the coronavirus began. Looking at the 7-day rolling averages, which smooth out daily fluctuations and allow trends to emerge, Illinois is seeing marked declines in cases, deaths, case positivity, and COVID-related hospitalizations,” Pritzker said.
State Representative Allen Skillicorn, an East Dundee Republican, acknowledged the goal of the stay-at-home order was to flatten the curve so we would not overwhelm our healthcare facilities. However in rebuttal of the Governor, Skillicorn said the goal line has moved frequently.
“The goal line moved to reducing overall spread and a five-phase plan releasing us from the governor’s grip only when a vaccine or treatment is readily available. How long will that be? Your guess is as good as mine,” Skillicorn said.
Pritzker said early on that if in the process of moving through the phases a vaccine or successful treatment is developed, we’ll skip all middle level steps and move to Phase 5.
“We’ve seen what’s happened in other states that have allowed politics or short-term thinking to drive decision-making. Many other states are now seeing increases in cases, hospitalizations, and intensive care bed usage and they’re being forced to move backward and stay at home—that’s not the story in Illinois,” Pritzker said.
McHenry County Board Chairman Jack Franks notes the reopening of businesses, retail, and recreation, such as indoor dining, health and fitness clubs, movie theaters, and museums and zoos.
“McHenry County went to Phase 4 on schedule because the people of McHenry County took this pandemic seriously from the start-they wore masks, physically distanced, and have followed other state and federal health and safety guidelines,” Franks said.
When asked by Sun Day news about Pritzker relying on data and science, Illinois Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton said, “It’s what got us to Phase 4 and it’s what will carry us through to Phase 5 of the Restore Illinois plan.”
Skillicorn also wants Illinois to reopen safely, but he believes the state has moved too slowly.
“Wirepoints illuminates that Illinois’ hospitalized patients peaked between April 15 and April 18, a full two weeks before Pritzker’s facemask order went into effect,” Skillicorn said.
Pritzker and Stratton say they understand the plight of small businesses in Illinois, that businesses have been hit hard by this pandemic.
“Through the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, funding is available to help businesses that were interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. We want them to safely and gradually reopen as we recognize how important these businesses are not just to the owners, but to entire communities,” Stratton said.
Franks also recognizes the economic harm on residents and businesses.
“It is vital that we continue to follow CDC guidelines to prevent a second wave here and cause further harm,” Franks said. Franks urges people to not only support local businesses, but donate to food pantries and charities if they can.
Since Restore Illinois Phase 1 – Rapid Spread, the state has built up its daily testing capabilities. In a 24-hour period, the state has surpassed 30,000 tests and has a dozen mobile community testing teams traveling throughout the state visiting areas with emerging outbreaks. The teams will work to mitigate and suppress the virus. They’ll go to such places as meatpacking plants and nursing homes, working hand-in-hand with a network of commercial labs for quick turnaround test results. Beside the partnership between state and commercial labs, contact tracing capacity will be increased statewide. This is made possible as county health departments, including Kane and McHenry Counties, seek a portion of $230 million dollars in contract tracing grants.
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has begun monitoring several indicators measuring the health burden of COVID-19 in each county. State Public Health officials are capturing a county’s ability to respond. These metrics are intended to be used to judge the level of awareness for each county’s progress during Phase 4. With the information available, city and village leaders, businesses, local health departments, and the public will have what’s needed for informed decisions and will be able to continue educating the public over healthy behaviors.
“We are grateful to Illinoisans across the state who followed the Governor’s Stay at Home order and are wearing their masks. We must stay the course. If everyone keeps doing what they are doing and taking every precaution, we should be able to continue to be on track in Phase 4 until we have a vaccine or reliable treatment. But, of course, we will continue to monitor the data and make decisions based on science,” Stratton said.
Businesses and employees needing resources can find assistance by visiting the website of Resume McHenry County, a task force created during the lockdown to determine the best path toward reopening as quickly and as safely as possible. You can find the website at www.resumemchenrycounty.org.
