(WSIL)---Phase 5 of Illinois Governor JB Pritzker's Restore Illinois plan requires one of the following criteria:
- Either a vaccine is developed to prevent additional spread of COVID-19,
- a treatment option is readily available that ensures health care capacity is no longer a concern,
- or there are no new cases over a sustained period.
Senator Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro) has questions regarding these parameters because according to her, Illinois has met these guidelines by having three vaccines currently in use.
Bryant asks that Governor Pritzker bring other legislators into the conversation on how to go forward in creating more concrete plans for moving into Phase 5, safely.
"The only thing we keep hearing is 'well we are following the science,' or 'we're putting a plan together,' or 'we're moving in a direction.' Ok but which direction are you moving, Governor? I think the people of Illinois and the legislators, who are a co-equal branch of government, deserve to know what his plan is and have a right to know what his plan is," said Bryant.
Bryant said she would also like to know when those in long-term care facilities will be allowed to have visitors again, now that vaccines have been made available to those who wanted to be vaccinated.
All of Illinois is currently in Phase 4, and moving to phase 5 would mean businesses and schools can fully reopen and large gatherings can resume once again.
The current statewide positivity rate in Illinois is 2.6% and over 3.5 million COVID-19 vaccines have been administered.
