Illinois Reopening Plan: 6 Things To Know

ILLINOIS — While preventive measures are still being recommended to keep the state on track to defeat the coronavirus, Illinois is on pace to fully reopen June 11. Phase 5 of Gov. J.B. Pritzker's Restore Illinois plan will mean the full reopening of all businesses and activities for the first time since the governor issued the stay-at-home order in March 2020. As of Friday, 65 percent of Illinoisans have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, which is safe and free to all Illinois residents 12 and older.

Here are 6 things to know about Illinois’ reopening plan:

1) Masks for fully vaccinated people: While businesses and municipalities may continue to require face masks and social distancing, according to the latest state and federal guidance, fully vaccinated people can ditch the face mask in indoor and outdoor settings. At outdoor businesses, unvaccinated people may choose not to wear a face mask if they can maintain a six-foot social distance while outdoors.

2) Masks for the unvaccinated: Unvaccinated people should continue to wear face masks in large crowds, especially when children are present. Immunocompromised people should also continue to wear face masks and practice social distancing.

3) Where everyone should still wear a mask: In accordance with CDC guidelines, there are still a handful of places where fully vaccinated and unvaccinated people should all continue to wear face masks and practice social distancing, such as public transportation, congregate settings and health care facilities, among others, and where required by federal, state, county and municipal laws and ordinances.

4) Capacity limits: Remaining capacity limits, social distancing guidelines and health mandates will be lifted for businesses, large-scale events, conventions, amusement parks and seated-spectator venues, which will be able to operate at full capacity, just in time to take advantage of Great America’s Tsunami Surge 8-story “water coaster,” or catch a Cubs or Sox game.

5) Schools: Students, staff and faculty in schools, day care settings and educational institutions should continue to follow the COVID-19 guidelines of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services and Illinois State Board of Education.

6) Businesses: All businesses and venues should continue to support social distancing to the greatest extent possible, especially in indoor settings. Best practices should be applied at such places as concession lines, public restrooms and lines/queuing.