SPRINGFIELD – On Sunday Governor J.B. Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Public Health announced that this coming Wednesday Region 2, which includes LaSalle, Bureau and Putnam County, will have measures put into place to slow the spread of COVID-19 after experiencing a number of days with high test positivity rates. This will mean bars and restaurants will not be allowed indoor service, all closing by 11 PM each day and gatherings limited to 25 or less. The mitigations could be lifted after a sustained time with lower than 8% test positivity.
Bars
• All bars close at 11pm and may reopen no earlier than 6am the following day
• No indoor service
• All bar patrons should be seated at tables outside
• No ordering, seating, or congregating at bar (bar stools should be removed)
• Tables should be 6 feet apart
• No standing or congregating indoors or outdoors while waiting for a table or exiting
• No dancing or standing indoors
• Reservations required for each party
• No seating of multiple parties at one table
Restaurants
• All restaurants close at 11pm and may reopen no earlier than 6am the following day
• No indoor dining or bar service
• Tables should be 6 feet apart – No standing or congregating indoors or outdoors while waiting for a table or exiting
• Reservations required for each party
• No seating of multiple parties at one table; Meetings, social events and gatherings (including weddings, funerals, potlucks, etc.)
• Limit to lesser of 25 guests or 25% of overall room capacity both indoors and outdoors
• No party buses
• Gaming and Casinos close at 11:00pm, are limited to 25 percent capacity, and follow mitigations for bars and restaurants, if applicable
Organized group recreational activities (fitness centers, sports, etc.)
• No change
• All Sports Guidance effective August 15, 2020, remains in effect
• Outdoor Activities (not included in the above exposure settings) continue per current DCEO guidance
If the positivity rate averages greater than or equal to 8 percent after 14 days, more stringent mitigations can be applied to further reduce spread of the virus, which could include reducing capacity on organized group recreation, fitness or other activities supported by local contact tracing data and temporary suspension of certain activities.
