Prairie State Wire

Now that there is a steady decline in the number of infections and hospitalizations in Illinois, many residents are asking when will the state move to Phase 5 of the reopening plan.

In Phase 5, businesses, schools and recreation facilities will reopen with safety measures still in place. What the state is requiring for it to move to Phase 5 is when either a vaccine has been developed or other treatment options are already in place so that there won’t be any missteps in providing proper care.

Now that there are vaccines for COVID-19, people are asking if Phase 5 is just around the corner.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker was asked when the next phase would occur and he said that the state is getting closer to it. He said, “What I can tell you is every day we’re getting closer to that. Every day people get a vaccine, people sign up and get a vaccine and we get a little closer.”

Pritzker expressed his confidence that they’re getting nearer to reopening every school and store in Illinois because the supply of vaccines is regularly increasing. He said that they are ramping up the supply of vaccines and when there is a vaccine for anyone who asks for it then that will be the time they move onto Phase 5.

According to federal health officials, at the rate they’re going, that reopening phase could be in June.