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Central Illinois Can Resume Indoor Dining With Move To Tier 1 Mitigations

Kristin McHugh/WCBU

Central Illinois can officially permit limited indoor dining and bar service again, as the region moves back to Tier 1 mitigations.

Under modified Tier 1 restrictions announced by Gov. JB Pritzker last week, restaurants and bars in Region 2 can now reopen inside at 25 percent capacity or 25 people, whichever is lesser.

It marks the first time indoor dining is allowed in the area under the governor's executive orders since November of last year, though many communities have turned a blind eye to local enforcement of the orders.

Region 2 includes Peoria, Bloomington, Galesburg, Macomb, LaSalle-Peru, and Rock Island. Region 5, which includes Southern Illinois, was moved to Tier 1 mitigations on Saturday.

To move to Tier 1, a region must report a seven-day rolling positivty rate of less than 8% for three consecutive days, at least 20% ICU and surgical bed availability on a three-day average, and no sustained increase in the number of people with COVID-19 in the hospital for 7 of the last 10 days.

On Sunday, the state reported 4,162 new COVID-19 cases and 29 additional deaths. The state's seven-day statewide test positivity rate is 7.1%.

We’re living in unprecedented times when information changes by the minute. WCBU will continue to be here for you, keeping you up-to-date with the live, local and trusted news you need. Help ensure WCBU can continue with its in-depth and comprehensive COVID-19 coverage as the situation evolves by making a contribution.

Copyright 2021 WCBU. To see more, visit WCBU.

Tim Shelley is the News Director at WCBU Peoria Public Radio.