Illinois Region 2 Going To Tier 2 Mitigations This Week

As vaccines continue to rollout throughout the country and mitigation efforts help slow the spread of COVID-19, there is good news for those on the Illinois side of the Quad Cities.

Due COVID-19 positivity rates dropping in Region 2 of Illinois, that region will be able to lower to Tier 2 mitigation plans which will relax and reopen some businesses. Region 2 of Illinois includes all of the Illinois Quad Cities, and the following counties:

• Rock Island
• Henry
• Mercer
• Henderson
• Bureau
• Knox
• Warren
• And others outside of the B100 listening area

According to the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), for Tier 3 mitigation metrics to be relaxed, a region must meet the following criteria:

• Have less than 12% test positivity rate (7-day rolling average) for three consecutive days
• Have greater than 20% available intensive care unit (ICU) and medical/surgical bed availability (3-day rolling average) for three consecutive days.
• Decline in the number of COVID-19 patients in the hospital (7-day rolling average) in 7 out of the last 10 days.

According to IDPH's metrics, Region 2 of Illinois has met that criteria. Region 2 has had their positivity rate less than 12% for 11 consecutive days. ICU and medical/surgical bed availability has been above 20% for 11 consecutive days now as well.

Due to Region 2 metrics meeting those criteria, counties in that region will be able to move to Tier 2 mitigations by Friday. This will be two weeks out after celebrations from ringing in the new year.

Tier 2 will allow some businesses to reopen but not all of them. Bars and restaurants will remain as outdoor dining only. One of the bigger changes with Tier 2 mitigations is in recreational activities. Tier 2 mitigations will be able to allow up to 25 guests or 25% of overall capacity both indoors and outdoors, which includes sporting events.

Casinos will be able to reopen in Tier 2 mitigations as well. Casinos will need to follow the same social distance guidelines as bars and restaurants when applicable, including closing at 11 p.m. and reopening as early as 6 a.m. the following day.

You can read more details about Tier 2 mitigations here, and see more metrics from IDPH here.