Gov. Pritzker issues guidelines for Illinois reopening June 11

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker released guidelines for Phase 5 of the Restore Illinois plan to go into effect Friday, June 11, marking a full reopening of all businesses and activities across Illinois. 

This guidance will mean businesses, large-scale events, conventions, amusement parks and seated-spectator venues, among others, will be able to operate at full capacity for the first time since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. This follows weeks of steady decreases in new positive COVID-19 cases and more than 67% of residents age 18 and older receiving their first vaccine dose. 

• Upon entering Phase 5, fully vaccinated people can resume activities without wearing a mask except where required by federal, state, local, tribal or territorial laws, rules and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance. 
• The State will continue to recommend masking for unvaccinated persons, and require it for all people while traveling on public transportation, in congregate settings, in health care settings, as well as in schools, day cares and educational institutions pursuant to the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and CDC guidance. 
• Large gatherings of all sizes can resume across all industry settings, and Phase 5 removes requirements that businesses institute mandatory social distancing in seated venues as well as daily health screenings of employees and visitors.
• Businesses and venues should continue to allow for social distancing to the extent possible, especially indoors.
• Illinois also is lifting the outdoor mask requirement in schools in accordance with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
• Businesses and local municipalities can put in place additional mitigations as they deem appropriate, including requiring face coverings.

"After a tremendously challenging year, Illinois has now reached a defining moment in our efforts to defeat COVID-19," Gov. Pritzker said last Friday. "Thanks to the hard work of residents across the state, Illinois will soon resume life as we knew it before - returning to events, gatherings and a fully reopened economy, with some of the safety guidelines we've adopted still in place.”

Businesses and communities can learn more about Phase 5 recommended public health practices.