Chicago began releasing some of its coronavirus restrictions this week as the region dropped to Level 2, however service inside restaurants remains suspended citywide and will be allowed once Level 1 is reached.
Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady says Level 1 could be reached in the near future, and the city could meet the required metrics by the weekend.
“So here in Chicago, our number of COVID cases in the hospital is declining well, our ICU capacity is adequate, and our positivity has decreased. And really, as of now, still in restaurants and bars, there is no service. indoors – that’s allowed on the next level, which we can possibly advance to as soon as, you know, possibly over the weekend, early next week, depending on where this number goes, “stated Arwady.
Almost all of Illinois was allowed to relax certain restrictions this week after state health officials changed the guidelines for moving between levels and phases.
The state health department announced that due to a change in staffing contracts, which increases hospital staffing across the state, the hospital bed availability metric used to determine the level or phase of a region will now only include ICU beds, and not all hospital beds available in the region.
With that change, several regions of the Chicago area were placed at Level 2.
“There was some discussion about whether it was necessary to include non-hospital capacity and the state has made the decision that it is not necessary to include that at this time, with which we fully agree, because you also need to see your number of COVID cases. who are hospitalized is declining, “Arwady said.
To move from Level 2 to Level 1, a region must have an average test positivity rate below 8% for three consecutive days, at least 20% of staffed ICU beds available for three consecutive days and one sustained decrease in the number of people in the hospital with COVID-19 for seven out of 10 days, averaging 7 days.
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot echoed Arwady’s comments during a press event Tuesday, saying she’s glad the state has changed the guidelines, allowing the city to reopen certain venues like museums and gyms with limited capacity.
“I’m looking forward to the day when, and hopefully soon, we will see dining inside restaurants,” Lightfoot said.
These are the metrics needed for Chicago to move from its current Level 2 to Level 1
- A test positivity rate between 6.5 and 8% for three consecutive days, measured by the 7-day moving average.
- At least 20% of hospital beds available in the ICU with staff for three consecutive days, on a 7-day moving average.
- That there is no sustained increase in the number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 for seven out of every 10 days, on an average of 7 days.
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