COVID-19 Update: Governor Announces Bridge to Phase 5

Governor Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Public Health announced yesterday the creation of a “Bridge” transition period from Phase 4 to Phase 5. When 70% of the state’s 65 and older population has received at least one dose of a vaccine, Illinois will move into the “Bridge” transition period. More information can be viewed at https://iml.org/file.cfm?key=20961.
 
After a 28-day monitoring of the “Bridge” transition period, the state will be eligible to move into Phase 5, as long as 50% or more of Illinois residents, 16 and older, have received at least one dose of a vaccine. Phase 5 will remove capacity restrictions and other regulations in place under previous mitigations and during the “Bridge” transition period, meaning if the state keeps on pace with vaccinations, community events, festivals and parades will be allowed to resume as soon as May. This could change if vaccination progress slows or if a resurgence of the virus occurs.
 
Regarding vaccinations, the Governor also announced that the state is on track to meet President Joseph R. Biden, Jr.’s target to have vaccines available to all adults by May 1. In Illinois, all adults 16 and older will be eligible to receive a vaccine starting Monday, April 12. The Governor may announce other categories of vaccine recipients who will become eligible prior to that date.