UPDATE (2021-03-18):  Governor Pritzker just released details of a “Bridge Phase” of re-opening between Phase 4 (the current restrictions applying to every region in Illinois) and Phase 5’s full re-opening. This Bridge Phase will begin when 70 percent of seniors aged 65 and older have received at least one vaccine dose. As of today, 55.8 percent of seniors 65+ statewide have received at least one dose.

The Illinois Manufacturers’ Association has been working with the Administration on further reopening guidance. We are still waiting on official changes to items such as temperature taking, mask wearing, and other current requirements on businesses.

During this Bridge Phase, more pandemic restrictions will be lifted. In a change, all regions of the state will move forward together rather than on a regional approach. The state’s mask mandate will continue in accordance with current CDC guidance.

The metrics for moving into Bridge Phase and finally Phase 5 are:

• Vaccination metrics: Once 70 percent of residents 65 and older statewide have received their first dose of the vaccine and no increase in COVID-19 metrics is recorded, the state could move into the Bridge Phase. Once 50 percent of residents 16 and older have received their first dose of the vaccine and no increase in COVID-19 metrics is recorded, the state could move into Phase 5.
• COVID-19 metrics: The state could advance if there is a non-increasing trend in hospital admissions for COVID-19-like illness, COVID-19 patients in the hospital and mortality rate while ICU bed availability must remain greater than or equal to 20 percent. The state will consider new knowledge of variants, vaccine effectiveness and the potential necessity of a booster shot as we move forward.
• Monitoring period: COVID-19 metrics will be considered over a 28-day monitoring period before the state can advance to the next phase. The current monitoring period began when all regions of the state moved into Phase 4.

Bridge Phase includes expanded capacity for offices, meetings, conferences, conventions, social events, personal care, retail operations, dining, health and fitness, and many more. Details are available here. Please note that there are metrics that could cause the state to revert backwards to a previous Phase of restrictions, including rising hospital admissions and reduced ICU bed availability.

Phase 5 in the Governor’s “Illinois Restored” plan occurs when “either a vaccine is developed to prevent additional spread, a treatment option is readily available, or there are no new cases over a sustained period.” Today’s announcement details that Phase 5 begins when at least 50 percent of Illinois residents have received their first vaccine dose. Currently, about 28 percent of persons between ages 16 and 65 have been vaccinated with at least one dose.

Everyone 16 and Older Eligible for Vaccination Starting April 12

Governor Pritzker announced today that starting on April 12, everyone in Illinois over the age of 16 will be eligible for vaccination. It’s unclear at this time whether Chicago residents will have the same eligibility expansion at the same time, as the City of Chicago gets its own vaccine allocation from the Federal government, separate from those given to the State of Illinois. Currently, Chicago is in Phase 1B of its vaccination plan and expands to 1C on March 29. Chicago’s Phase 1C includes a majority of adult Chicagoans, people ages 16 to 64 with underlying medical conditions, and all other essential workers. Chicago’s current plan is for all adults 16+ to be eligible for vaccines starting May 31, but expansion could happen earlier if supplies increase.

President Biden has called on states to open vaccine eligibility to all adults starting no later than May 1, 2021. Pritzker warned that even with expanded eligibility starting on April 12 that residents would need to be patient as supply and distribution constraints will result in some residents having to wait for vaccine appointments.

The Illinois Manufacturers’ Association continues to engage with state and local policyholders to ensure vaccine

In Illinois, in terms of vaccine distribution, nearly all manufacturing will now be contained in Phase 1B. This is a change and follows the recent ACIP recommendations from the federal government that were issued on December 22, 2020. The list of entities contained in Phase 1B will now include:

The current definition of manufacturing that the Governor’s Office is contemplating reads as follows: “Industrial production of goods for distribution to wholesale, retail, or other manufacturers.” This is an attempt to be broad-based and ensure that supply chains are included so as not to create disruptions.

UPDATE (2021-03-18): Everyone 16 and Older Eligible for Vaccination Starting April 12Governor Pritzker announced that starting on April 12, everyone in Illinois over the age of 16 will be eligible for vaccination. As the City of Chicago gets its own vaccine allocation from the Federal government, separate from those given to the State of Illinois, the City will expand eligibility on its own timeline separate from the State’s. Currently, Chicago is in Phase 1B of its vaccination plan and expands to 1C on March 29. Chicago’s Phase 1C includes a majority of adult Chicagoans, people ages 16 to 64 with underlying medical conditions, and all other essential workers. Chicago’s current plan is for all adults 16+ to be eligible for vaccines starting May 31, but expansion could happen earlier if supplies increase.

President Biden has called on states to open vaccine eligibility to all adults starting no later than May 1, 2021. Pritzker warned that even with expanded eligibility starting on April 12 that residents would need to be patient as supply and distribution constraints will result in some residents having to wait for vaccine appointments.

The Illinois Manufacturers’ Association continues to engage with state and local policyholders on vaccine distribution and eligibility.