[UPDATE] Illinois Region 1 has returned to Phase 4 of the Restore Illinois plan. See exactly what those changes look like.

[UPDATE 1/21 1:35 p.m.] The region's mitigation efforts are continuing to slow the spread of COVID-19. So much so, that today, the region has returned to Phase 4. Via the City of Rockford's facebook page, here's what that means for us.

GREAT NEWS: Our region has now moved to Phase 4!

Highlights of this phase include:

Restaurants and Bars
• Indoor...

Posted by City of Rockford Government on Monday, January 25, 2021


It's beginning to look like more mitigation changes are ahead for Illinois Region 1, And those changes could happen as soon as today.
If all the mitigation numbers continue on the path they have been on, Regions 1 (and 2) will be moving to Phase 4 of the Restore Illinois Plan on Monday, January 25, 2021.

To get to Phase 4 we need a test positivity rate of less 6.5% for three consecutive days, 20 percent available staffed ICU hospital beds for three consecutive days, and no sustained increase in the number of people in the hospital with COVID-19 for seven out of 10 days.

We almost made it to Phase 4 last Friday, but the positivity rate spiked for a day. Now it's been below 6.5 percent for three consecutive days and that means a return to Phase 4

Phase 4, Revitalization, means:

  • Gatherings of 50 people or fewwer
  • Restaurants and bars reopen
  • Travel resumes
  • Childcare and schools reopen under guidance from the Illinois Department of Public Health

I've missed a great number of things during this pandemic, none quite as much as sitting at a restaurant and eating my meal straight from the kitchen. Please remember that it is still VERY important to keep wearing a mask and practicing social distancing.

There are only two ways we get this pandemic completely behind us; that's by being infected by the virus or getting the vaccine. Listen to Rockford doctor, Bill Renk, detail our road ahead.

Regular Steve Shannon Show guest, Dr. Bill Renk (SwedishAmerican), was on the phone to update us on the day before he gets his second covid vaccine shot. Dr. Renk hit on topics that included:

  • His one and only vaccination side-effect thus far
  • What age group tends to have more side-efects
  • Warning for those who have a history of severe allergic reactions
  • The biggest component of the COVID-19 vaccine has been around since the early 2000s

and

  • surprising distance we still have to travel to get to herd immunity

Steve Shannon is host of The Steve Shannon Show on 97ZOK. On the air weekday mornings from 6 to 10 a.m. and a special 'Rewind' show, featuring favorite moments from previous shows, on Saturday mornings from 5 to 7 a.m.. Follow him on Twitter, Instagram, and like his page on Facebook.

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