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Region 6 Moves to Phase 4 and Region 7 Advances to Tier 1

IDPH urges people to continue wearing masks, avoiding large gatherings, and getting vaccinated when
eligible
Paxton – The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today announced Region 6 (Champaign,
Clark, Clay, Coles, Crawford, Cumberland, De Witt, Douglas, Edgar, Effingham, Fayette, Ford, Iroquois,
Jasper, Lawrence, Macon, Moultrie, Piatt, Richland, Shelby, Vermillion) is returning to Phase 4 of the
Restore Plan and Region 7 (Kankakee and Will) is advancing to Tier 1. Information about which tier and
phase regions are in can be found at the top of the IDPH website homepage.
“I am excited that 10 out of our 11 regions have moved out of Tier 3 mitigations,” said IDPH Director Dr.
Ngozi Ezike. “However, this does not mean we can let our guard down. We must continue to practice
actions to protect ourselves from the virus – wear our masks, avoid large gatherings, and get the vaccine
when it is our turn. This is particularly critical as new variants circulate, which early studies show spread
much more rapidly. We are headed in the right direction once again, so let’s stay the course.”
IDPH will continue to closely monitor test positivity, ICU bed availability, and the number of people in
the hospital with COVID-19. Should data show regions trending in the wrong direction, based on the
established mitigation metrics, regions could once again find themselves in a higher tier with increase
measures.
Metrics for moving from a higher to lower tier are as follows:
Moving from Tier 3 to Tier 2
Test positivity rate ≥ 8% and below 12% for three consecutive days (7-day average)
AND
Staffed ICU bed availability ≥ 20% for three consecutive days (7-day average)
AND
Sustained decline in COVID patients in hospital (7-day average for 7 of 10 days)
Moving from Tier 2 to Tier 1
Test positivity rate between 6.5% and 8% for three consecutive days (7-day average)
AND
Staffed ICU bed availability ≥ 20% for three consecutive days (7-day average)
AND
No sustained increase in COVID patients in hospital (7-day average for 7 of 10 days)
Ford County Public Health Department
235 North Taft Street
Paxton, IL 60957

For release on January 21, 2021
Contact: Megan Reutter, Community Health Educator
(217)379-9281
mreutter@fordcountyphd.org

 
Moving from Tier 1 to Phase 4
Test positivity rate ≥ 8% and below 12% for three consecutive days (7-day average)
AND
Staffed ICU bed availability ≥ 20% for three consecutive days (7-day average)
AND
No sustained increase in COVID patients in hospital (7-day average for 7 of 10 days)
Phase 4: Revitalization
In phase 4, There is a continued decline in the rate of infection in new COVID-19 cases. Hospitals have
capacity and can quickly adapt for a surge of new cases in their communities. Additional measures can be
carefully lifted allowing for schools and child care programs to reopen with social distancing policies in
place. Restaurants can open with limited capacity and following strict public health procedures, including
personal protective equipment for employees. Gatherings with 50 people or fewer will be permitted.
Testing is widely available, and tracing is commonplace.
Please see the guidelines for Phase 4:
• Gatherings: All gatherings of 50 people or fewer are allowed with this limit subject to change
based on latest data & guidance
• Travel: Travel should follow IDPH and CDC approved guidance
• Health care: All health care providers are open
• Education and childcare: P-12 schools, higher education, all summer programs, and childcare
open with IDPH approved safety guidance
• Outdoor recreation: All outdoor recreation allowed
• Businesses:
o Manufacturing: All manufacturing open with IDPH approved safety guidance
o “Non-essential” businesses: All employees return to work with IDPH approved safety
guidance; Employers are encouraged to provide accommodations for COVID-19-
vulnerable employees
o Bars and Restaurants: Open with capacity limits and IDPH approved safety guidance
o Personal care services and health clubs: All barbershops, salons, spas and health and
fitness clubs open with capacity limits and IDPH approved safety guidance
o Entertainment: Cinema and theaters open with capacity limits and IDPH approved safety
guidance
o Retail: Open with capacity limits and IDPH approved safety guidance
Information about mitigation and resurgence metrics can be found on the IDPH website at
http://www.dph.illinois.gov/regionmetrics.

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