Published: July 24, 2020
By Andy Boyle and Caroline Hurley, Chicago Sun-Times
Please note: As of Jan. 29, 2021, this page is no longer updating due to changes in regional classification by the Illinois Department of Public Health. For the most up-to-date information on which phase or tier your region is in, please visit the IDPH website.
On July 15, Gov. J.B. Pritzker unveiled a new plan to slow the continued spread of COVID-19 in Illinois, splitting up the state into 11 regions, instead of the four regions outlined in his original Restore Illinois plan.
In November, all 11 regions in the state were placed under tier 3 restrictions. Since then, each region has been continually re-evaluated, and in early January the governor began moving some regions back to tier 2, which has alllowed for some indoor dining to reopen.
If a region meets certain thresholds for metrics including percentage of people testing positive, sufficient hospital capacity, and declining hospital admissions, then it can move out of tier 3 back into the less-restrictive tier 2.
Municipalities can set their own restrictions, so long as they are not any less stringent than what the governor sets.
Detailed information on each tier is presented below, along with data to show how close each of the 11 regions are to moving out of tier 3. Data is provided by the Illinois Department of Public Health.
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The 11 regions are based on Illinois' existing Emergency Medical Services (EMS) regions, with the exception that Chicago has been separated from its surrounding suburbs into its own region. For counties that fall into more than one EMS region, these new regions follow county lines.
The 11 regions are based on Illinois' existing Emergency Medical Services (EMS) regions, with the exception that Chicago has been separated from its surrounding suburbs into its own region. For counties that fall into more than one EMS region, these new regions follow county lines.
Use the buttons below to explore each tier of the guidelines for adding more restrictions to slow any resurgence of COVID-19 in Illinois.
Businesses will need to reduce indoor capacity, as well as other spaces where people gather in close proximity. Read more
Bars and restaurants: Reduce indoor dining capacity and suspend indoor bar service
Hospitals: Reduce elective surgeries and procedures; limit visitations at hospitals; implement twice daily bed-reporting
Meetings, social events and religious gatherings: Additional limits on gatherings and room capacity
Offices: Institute remote work for high risk individuals; continued emphasis on telework for as many workers as possible
Organized group recreational activities & gyms: Reduce indoor capacity. Note: While this includes fitness centers, sports, etc., this list is not exhaustive and other industries may be added if indicated by the data
Retail: Reduce in-person capacity. Note: This list is not exhaustive and other industries may be added if indicated by the data
Salons and personal care: Institute temporary location shutdown tied to outbreak
Read less
Many businesses will suspend indoor activities, and there will be greater limits on gatherings. Read more
Bars and restaurants: Suspend indoor dining and bar service
Hospitals: Suspend elective surgeries and procedures; implement surge capacity; assess need to open alternate care facility
Meetings, social events and religious gatherings: Greater limits on gatherings and room capacity
Offices: Reduce office capacity with recommendations to resume remote work where possible
Organized group recreational activities & gyms: Suspend organized indoor recreational activities. Note: This list is not exhaustive and other industries may be added if indicated by the data
Retail: Suspend in-person non-essential retail; online and curbside pick-up available for all. Note: This list is not exhaustive and other industries may be added if indicated by the data
Salons and personal care: Institute temporary location shutdown tied to outbreak with possible broader mitigations
Read less
Non-essential retail and businesses will be suspended, along with organized recreational activities, and restaurants will have takeout only. Read more
Bars and restaurants: Suspend in-person dining; takeout only
Hospitals: Open alternate care facility
Meetings, social events and religious gatherings: Strictest limit to gatherings and room capacity
Offices: Institute remote work for all non-essential workers
Organized group recreational activities & gyms: Suspend organized indoor and outdoor recreational activities. Note: This list is not exhaustive and other industries may be added if indicated by the data
Retail: Suspend all non-essential retail; only essential retail open, such as grocery stores and pharmacies. Note: This list is not exhaustive and other industries may be added if indicated by the data
Salons and personal care: Suspend salon and personal care operations
Read less
On Nov. 20, 2020, all 11 regions in Illinois were placed under tier 3 restrictions by Governor Pritzer. Throughout the following weeks, the state saw record daily case and death counts.
In 2021, the governor announced new standards, which, if met, allow for a region to move out of tier 3 and back to the less restrictive tier 2. These new metrics are slightly different than the standards that originally sent the state into tier 3.
A region will be allowed to move out of tier 3 back into a less restrictive tier if:
AND if:
AND if: